Sierra Space, a leading, pureplay commercial space company building the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space, announced it successfully completed a hot-fire test campaign of a new hypergolic engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sierra Space VORTEX\u00ae VRM1500-H produces 1,500 pounds of force (lbf) thrust and achieved high thrust efficiency during recent testing. VORTEX technology will serve a critical industry need for engines that can support in-space propulsion for spacecraft orbital maneuvering and extraterrestrial landers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The VRM1500-H is rooted in Sierra Space\u2019s patented VORTEX engine design technology, which promotes efficient, stable combustion. A vortex injector utilizes a unique swirling propellant flow to naturally cool the combustion chamber. Depending on mission requirements, both pressure-fed and electric pump-fed variants will be available. The new engine relies on additive manufacturing to reduce part count and simplify manufacturing. Coupled with the unique VORTEX technology, this results in a robust, lightweight and cost-efficient rocket engine system. A video of the recent testing can be found here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sierra Space, which is building the Dream Chaser\u00ae spaceplane and inflatable LIFE\u2122 habitat, is reimagining rocket fuels and their engines at a 200-acre propulsion test facility outside Baraboo, Wisconsin. The company is also developing a larger, 35,000 lbf thrust upper-stage engine, the VORTEX VR35K-A, in conjunction with the Air Force Research Laboratory. With VORTEX, robust design margins deliver extremely high durability, reliability and reusability in engines that are inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommercial companies and government entities sometimes require a high thrust, high efficiency propulsion solution that provides a large payload with the ability to move to a new orbit rapidly,\u201d said Rusty Thomas, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Space Applications at Sierra Space. \u201cOur VORTEX engine technology couples high performance with reliability in a small package. This recent successful hot-fire test program brings us one step closer to another dynamic addition to our family of engines to propel us in building and growing an accessible commercial space economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The VORTEX VRM1500-H uses hypergolic propellants, which have long-term storability in space and spontaneously ignite upon mixing, thereby improving reliability and removing the complexity of a traditional ignition system. Use of hypergolic propellants allows the VRM1500-H to easily and reliably ignite and reignite multiple times, as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sierra Space began development and initial testing of the VRM1500-H in 2021. After optimizing the design, a second test campaign commenced in 2022, with the VRM1500-H ultimately achieving the high performance of 1,500 lbf thrust in vacuum. The next design and testing cycle of the VRM1500-H will address the industry\u2019s need for cost-efficient solutions using design for manufacturing best practices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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