Article 1st time in US, a rotating detonation rocket engine takes flight (Venus Aerospace) - Printable Version +- Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum (https://www.scivillage.com) +-- Forum: Culture (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-49.html) +--- Forum: Astronautics (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-136.html) +--- Thread: Article 1st time in US, a rotating detonation rocket engine takes flight (Venus Aerospace) (/thread-18000.html)

1st time in US, a rotating detonation rocket engine takes flight (Venus Aerospace) - C C - May 15, 2025 https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/05/venus-aerospace-flies-its-rotating-detonation-rocket-engine-for-the-first-time/ INTRO: A US-based propulsion company, Venus Aerospace, said Wednesday it had completed a short flight test of its rotating detonation rocket engine at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company's chief executive and co-founder, Sassie Duggleby, characterized the flight as "historic." It is believed to be the first US-based flight test of an idea that has been discussed academically for decades, a rotating detonation rocket engine. The concept has previously been tested in a handful of other countries, but never with a high-thrust engine. "By proving this engine works beyond the lab, Venus brings the world closer to a future where hypersonic travel—traversing the globe in under two hours—becomes possible," Duggleby told Ars. A quick flight The company has only released limited information about the test. The small rocket, powered by the company's 2,000-pound-thrust engine, launched from a rail in New Mexico. The vehicle flew for about half a minute, and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier. Governments around the world have been interested in rotating detonation engine technology for a long time because it has the potential to significantly increase fuel efficiency in a variety of applications, from Navy carriers to rocket engines. In contrast to a traditional rocket engine, in which a highly pressurized propellant and an oxidizer are injected into a combustion chamber where they burn and produce an energetic exhaust plume, a rotating detonation engine is different in that a wave of detonation travels around a circular channel. This is sustained by the injection of fuel and oxidizer and produces a shockwave that travels outward at supersonic speed... (MORE - details) RE: 1st time in US, a rotating detonation rocket engine takes flight (Venus Aerospace) - Yazata - May 15, 2025 Here's the Venus Aerospace press release https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/venus-aerospace-completes-historic-us-hypersonic-engine-flight-test-302455690.html A not-very-informative wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_detonation_engine Venus Aerospace's little test rocket in New Mexico