Venus Aerospace Completes First Long-Duration Run for Hypersonic Engine Design

Houston-based hypersonic flight platforms developer Venus Aerospace has announced that it has completed the first long-duration test of its rotating detonation rocket engine in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. 

According to the company, the test is a critical step toward RDRE opening the era of reusable and economical hypersonic engines. The RDREs theoretically can be 15 percent more efficient than traditional rocket engines, as they consume less propellant, enabling farther flights and lower fuel use, Venus Aerospace said Thursday.  

The company added that its RDRE uses storable and stable liquid propellants, fostering safer operations and quicker fueling while avoiding propellant boil-off.

Andrew Duggleby, Venus Aerospace co-founder and chief technology officer, viewed the first hot-fire test’s completion as “an important technical milestone” for a flight-ready engine. The Venus RDRE had previously undergone only short-duration tests involving uncooled hardware for quick and inexpensive testing, he said.

Besides DARPA, other U.S. government agencies have awarded contracts for Venus to step up its RDRE development and the engine’s potential deployment in hypersonic and space missions. In January, Venus Aerospace disclosed a partnership with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center to undertake simulation flight tests for its engine injector design for a hypersonic RDRE. The company noted that previous tests on the design showed top performance and the longest engine detonation.