Comments on: New smallsat rocket company plans first flight of aerospike engine https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/ Sun, 18 Jun 2017 20:19:06 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Alex https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995321 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 20:19:06 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995321 I just read the link/article above more in detail and learned that the planned rocket display a single stage (to orbit) design, which is quite a challenge. That’s why they proposed to use an aerospike engine, because the vehicle’s engine Isp has to squeezed to maximum. Please note, the company proposes to use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidizer (kerosene as fuel), very different to all other similar launcher proposals and results in additional challenges and hazards.

]]> By: Alex https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995186 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 05:28:18 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995186 Aerospike engines, which are known for 50 or even more years, may increase average Isp during ascent by about 5-8% by adopting more efficient to local atmospheric pressure, are not game changer. This kind of engine have also significant disadvantages in respect to cooling and weight efficiency and other issues.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995163 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 03:02:01 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995163 In reply to Rex Ridenoure.

Rex Ridenoure: I had thought I had revised the text of my post to reflect your correction, and discovered that I had somehow only gotten half done and then saved it. I just fixed it. Thanks for noting this distinction for me.

]]> By: Rex Ridenoure https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995160 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 02:52:01 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995160 Robert: Yes, a milestone ARCA could claim — if they do it — is “first aerospike-outfitted rocket to reach 100 km” or some such. They can’t claim to be the first rocket to launch with an aerospike engine, however.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995159 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 02:51:05 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995159 In reply to Anthony Domanico.

Anthony Domanico: If you want to spend some time, do a search on BtB for “Virgin Galactic,” click on the earliest stories, and proceed forward in time. You will see me go from a big fan to increasingly skeptical to downright disgusted. They had more than a decade headstart on everyone else, and squandered it badly.

As for the lawsuit against Firefly, I can make no comment. I was not really privy to all the court records. It does appear however that Virgin Galactic had an airtight case.

]]> By: Anthony Domanico https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995155 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 02:22:12 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995155 I’m really bummed about the status of Firefly Space Systems as they too planned to use an aerospike style first stage booster. Initially it looked like that company was going to do well. I hope they can somehow regroup and form a new company. Does that seem plausible to anybody? Was anyone else a fan of that company?

Another bummer is that they didn’t fail due to issues with their technology or business strategy, but rather by a lawsuit. To be clear, I’m not saying they didn’t deserve the lawsuit, just that it was a sad reason to see a launch provider fail.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of Virgin Galactic. I wish them well, but if they fail it will be even more of a tragedy, for we will have lost two launch providers. Was their lawsuit against Firefly Space Systems (or was it specifically against Tom Markusoc?) well deserved? Are any of the readers here a fan of Virgin Galactic?

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995093 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 19:37:32 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995093 In reply to Robert Zimmerman.

However, the wording of my post suggested that this would be the first aerospike engine to ever fly, which is not true. I have revised the wording accordingly.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995091 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 19:36:12 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995091 In reply to Tom Billings.

Tom Billings: I believe these are the Garvey student tests, which proves that ARCA’s flight this summer will be the first aerospike launch to reach space, if it succeeds as planned.

]]> By: Tom Billings https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995089 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 19:28:49 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995089 Robert, if these test flights Rex speaks of are the Aerospike flights that Garvey did in cooperation with the California college group, then I believe their maximum altitude was around 16 kilometers.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995086 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 18:44:06 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995086 In reply to Rex Ridenoure.

Rex: The link does not say how high these tests flew, so I am unsure they made 100 km.

]]> By: Rex Ridenoure https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-smallsat-rocket-company-plans-first-flight-of-aerospike-engine/#comment-995070 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 17:43:42 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=46149#comment-995070 If ARCA reaches space altitude (100 km) with their rocket they may have something to brag about. But an aerospike-outfiited rocket has already been launched, years ago:

http://www.astronautix.com/g/garveyaerospike.html

Garvey Spacecraft Corp. was acquired by Vector Space Systems (now Vector) in 2016.

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