Sierra Space, one of the most innovative companies in the space sector, has reached a significant milestone in its development of advanced propulsion systems . The company has successfully completed the test campaign of the VR35K-A upper stage engine, a high-performance space engine propelled by liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2).
This type of engine, which is part of a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), marks a significant advance in propulsion technology for national security and commercial space missions .
A space engine with efficiency and technology
The VR35K-A is an engine that employs a fuel-rich, staged combustion cycle and a VORTEX combustion chamber patented by Sierra Space. This architecture allows for more stable and efficient combustion, resulting in superior performance compared to other engines available on the market. In addition, the innovative turbopump design optimizes engine operation, reducing its complexity and production costs.
The test campaign, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, California, validated key engine objectives, including efficient thrust chamber operation, turbomachinery robustness, and precise control of the fuel/oxidizer mixture. These results are essential to ensure engine reliability for future space launches .
More payload and space efficiency
The company has also received a $16 million contract from AFRL to continue development of the VR35K-A, which will allow them to further refine this engine and adapt it for future missions in low Earth orbit and beyond. The success of this engine could transform the way commercial and defense space missions are executed, delivering up to 30% more payload, optimizing resources for greater operational capability.
Additionally, this upper stage engine will be used on the Dream Chaser spacecraft , one of Sierra Space’s flagship projects. The integration of VORTEX technology improves engine efficiency and enables more precise orbital maneuvers and greater control during extraterrestrial landing missions.
Sierra Space’s collaboration with Florida Turbine Technologies, a subsidiary of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, has been key to the development of the engine’s turbomachinery. This partnership has enabled the integration of solutions that guarantee a high level of reliability and efficiency in the engine, a technology that promises to redefine the standards of space propulsion .
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Source and photo: Sierra Space
