1st public presentation of Orbex tech will be at the Royal Aeronautical Society President's Conference on 22/11/17
https://twitter.com/orbexspace/status/917006401867837440Quote1st public presentation of Orbex tech will be at the Royal Aeronautical Society President's Conference on 22/11/17
Chris Larmour, Orbex: developing a launch vehicle capable of delivering 165 kg into sun-synchronous orbit. Been working quietly last few years, in process of closing a 4th round of funding. #Space17
Larmour says this is the first time there’s been a public presentation on the company. Still holding some details close, like the fuel the vehicle uses or spaceport they’re considering. #Space17
Larmour: have a number of letters of intent, but hope to sign first launch contract for a 50-kg science payload, by year’s end. #Space17
Larmour: won’t name the fuel we’re using, but not RP-1 or methane; doesn’t freeze at LOX temperatures. #Space17
QuoteLarmour: won’t name the fuel we’re using, but not RP-1 or methane; doesn’t freeze at LOX temperatures. #Space17https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/933344717223485440
Is there any reason to not disclose the propellants they are using? Seems like an unnecessary detail to keep secret.
Quote from: Davidthefat on 11/22/2017 02:23 pmIs there any reason to not disclose the propellants they are using? Seems like an unnecessary detail to keep secret.It's somewhat related to their tank structure, which (if the press release from July 11th is to be believed) has dry mass savings up to 30%, which is a big deal. If they're working with a novel process that relies on the fuel type, then keeping it secret might help keep the tank design secret as well.All baseless speculation, obviously, but that's par for the course when we have so few details
Quote from: Craftyatom on 11/22/2017 04:35 pmQuote from: Davidthefat on 11/22/2017 02:23 pmIs there any reason to not disclose the propellants they are using? Seems like an unnecessary detail to keep secret.It's somewhat related to their tank structure, which (if the press release from July 11th is to be believed) has dry mass savings up to 30%, which is a big deal. If they're working with a novel process that relies on the fuel type, then keeping it secret might help keep the tank design secret as well.All baseless speculation, obviously, but that's par for the course when we have so few details Engine image from Twitter:-https://twitter.com/RAeSTimR/status/933344493612556288Looks like a copper heat sink.
I'm guessing the copper is a housing for their cooling system (regen?) rather than an actual heat sink itself, but similar deal. Also, it could be a diffuser for testing vacuum engines, though I doubt it with that test setup.
To me, it appears to be a solid heatsink with sets of thermocouples. Not a practical engine, but a good way of testing heat flows, ignition techniques, injectors and possibly combustion stability. A block that size that should be able to run for a couple of seconds.There is no reason to put a cooling system in a housing, it just makes it heavier