In a historic moment for aerospace engineering , POLARIS Spaceplanes has succeeded in firing a linear aerospike engine in flight . This achievement was reached on Tuesday, October 29, when the MIRA II flight demonstrator performed the first successful test over the Baltic Sea, taking off from Peenemünde Airport.
The first in-flight ignition of the AS-1F aerospike engine
The AS-1F aerospike engine, powered by LOX/kerosene and designed to generate a thrust of 1 kN, operated for 3 seconds with a reduced propellant load. This precaution made it possible to maintain a limited chamber pressure and ensure the safety of the operation. Despite these restrictions, the MIR A II vehicle achieved an acceleration of 4 m/s², equivalent to 900 N of thrust , while ascending accurately.
Moreover, the test programme progressed remarkably quickly: from the first turbine-powered flights on 25–27 October, to the integration of the aerospike system on the 28th. On the evening of 29 October, following a successful engine balance test, MIRA II took off and became the first vehicle to fire an aerospike engine in flight.
First flight of an aerospike engine. Source: POLARIS Spaceplanes
POLARIS Spaceplanes thanked its key partners, such as the Bundeswehr, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, and multiple aviation bodies and insurers. The team also revealed that they are already preparing new flight campaigns and the development of their next supersonic prototype , NOVA, which will take the technology to new levels of performance.
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Source and photo: POLARIS Spaceplanes
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