Author Topic: New Frontiers Aerospace... (Read 31552 times)

Tywin · « **on:** 05/30/2022 03:11 pm »

New company for Hypersonic flight...

https://www.nfaero.com/

Vahe231991 · « **Reply #1 on:** 07/29/2022 03:50 pm »

The mission statement of New Frontiers Aerospace is as follows:
"To deliver cargo and passengers anywhere on Earth in two hours or less - in a renewably fueled, net carbon neutral aircraft."

What propulsion system is being considered for the New Frontiers Aerospace spaceplane design if New Frontiers Aerospace is to succeed in its goal of creating a net carbon neutral hypersonic spaceplane? A rocket-assisted scramjet or a mixed power scramjet/rocket powerplant?

Robotbeat · « **Reply #2 on:** 07/29/2022 06:03 pm »

You can make any fuel net carbon neutral by using direct carbon capture, like Climeworks (who is partnering with the other hypersonic plane company, Hermes).

simonbp · « **Reply #3 on:** 08/03/2022 02:47 pm »

And if you can make carbon-negative fuel, you'll make several orders of magnitude more money off of that than hypersonic cargo delivery.

Vahe231991 · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/29/2023 03:43 am »

Quote

The Department of Defense has awarded a $1.5 million contract to New Frontier Aerospace to continue its work on a 3D-printed rocket engine.

The aerospace manufacturer announced the deal in a press release Tuesday, with funding coming from the National Security Innovation Capital. The company is developing a rocket engine called Mjölnir. Development began with a $750,000 contract from the NSIC in 2020.

The new contract will fund the development of the remaining parts needed to complete the engine. The company plans to run a final test -- called a hotfire test -- by May 2024.

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2023/02/21/department-defense-new-frontier-aerospace-mjolnir-contract/5151677006282/

Asteroza · « **Reply #5 on:** 05/07/2023 10:01 pm »

Their Mjolnir smaller scale full flow staged combustion engine may be of interest to parties with access to a methalox propellant depot ecosystem...

Vahe231991 · « **Reply #6 on:** 07/09/2023 02:52 am »

New Frontier Aerospace put out a tweet further expressing opposition to expendable rocket stages in order to justify its emphasis on point-to-point hypersonic transportation:
https://twitter.com/AerospaceNew/status/1670467348778844160

Danderman · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/01/2025 01:10 am »

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-frontier-aerospace-appoints-industry-veteran-rich-pournelle-as-director-of-business-development-302571232.html

New Frontier Aerospace Appoints Industry Veteran Rich Pournelle as Director of Business Development

https://www.nfaero.com/

thespacecow · « **Reply #8 on:** 10/20/2025 11:47 am »

There's already a thread for this company: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=56443.0

Also Jess Sponable was on FISO telecom recently: https://fiso.spiritastro.net/telecon/Sponable_10-1-25/

They're making some progress but it looks like it's very underfunded, which is a shame since this company is more interesting than all the F9 me too companies that's being showered with money these today.

Danderman · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/21/2025 01:45 am »

Thanks, I looked everywhere for a thread, couldn't find it.

I know some of the people involved in this company, no idea if they will come up with the money.

AndrewM · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/28/2026 09:57 pm »

Merged the 2 threads.

US startup tests world’s most advanced rocket engine for military’s hypersonic drones [Mar. 4]

Quote

Washington-based company New Frontier Aerospace (NFA) has completed an important round of fire tests on its Mjölnir rocket engine, marking a major step forward in the race to redefine propulsion for next-generation hypersonic vehicles and space systems.