Venus Aerospace, a start-up designing one of the most advanced hypersonic engines, took a unique approach to their latest design. After winning a funding award from NASA, the company outfitted their in-development hypersonic engine with new nozzle designs. Their aim: to use the new design in an upcoming demonstration test set to take place in a matter of months.
Venus Aerospace’s CTO, Andrew Duggleby, said in a press release: “This is just the beginning of what can be achieved with Venus propulsion technology. We’ve built a compact, high-performance system that unlocks speed, range, and agility across aerospace, defence, and many other applications. And we’re confident in its readiness for flight.”
How Venus Aerospace & NASA Crossed Paths
Venus Aerospace previously applied for a NASA Small Business Innovation Research award. After waiting for the verdict, Venus Aerospace received the good news: they had won the funding for an undisclosed amount.
NASA’s funding targets promising SME space organisations who develop “the future of aerospace technology.” With the money acquired, Venus Aerospace decided to apply their new-found riches to the outfitting of the nozzle on their Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE).
The nozzle is a highly important aspect of the engine. It’s used to shape and direct power when exerted from the RDRE. This essential element of the RDRE has already “exceeded expectations” after a hot-fire test in March this year, and will be used in an upcoming ground-based launch test that will be conducted during the summer months. An official test date is yet to be confirmed.
Venus Aerospace’s New Nozzle Design For Their hypersonic RDRE engine
Slated as the “startup building the world’s most advanced engine system for hypersonic flight”, the fitted engine nozzle is all set for testing. Now that this component has been finalised, the focus has shifted to showcasing the capabilities of Venus Aerospace’s RDRE. Once operational, the RDRE will offer commercial and government agencies a more efficient and affordable propulsion system. However, they face some stiff competition with Rocket Lab, ESA, and UKSA all dabbling in the hypersonic space.
Reason being, its a singular engine that can fulfil takeoff, hypersonic cruise, and acceleration. Their goal is to scale the production of their RDRE which has already proved a 90% efficiency rate compared to more standardised rocket engines. Venus Aerospace said their RDRE is “now one of the most advanced of its kind. And it’s just the beginning, with more innovations on the horizon.”
Unpacking Venus Aerospace’s Hypersonic Engine
To power the propulsion unit, Venus Aerospace have built an engine that can withstand supersonic shockwaves, otherwise known as detonations. Should the engine pass testing with flying colours, it will produce a significant amount of power to reach hypersonic speeds. That’s in addition to, reducing fuel consumption. Conversely, rockets that use more conventional engine designs require multiple engines to stand firm against fluctuating speeds.
As a result, Venus Aerospace’s engine may defeat the standard rocket engine due to its “single engine architecture” and power. Venus Aerospace argued: “Its elegant simplicity unlocks major advantages in speed, range, reusability, and cost—enabling a vehicle to accelerate from runway to Mach 5+ without changing engines.”
When the engine officially enters the market, Venus Aerospace outlined that its usage is ubiquitous. And that includes its application in different sectors – including defence and aerospace. The RDRE can be applied to landers, LEO satellites, cargo vehicles, kick-stages, and drones or missiles. Eye’s will be glued to the upcoming test to see if Venus Aerospace meet their potential.
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