I'm not sure what to make of their company with the limited information available, but the render makes for a cool poster or desktop background.
Your Mission* Design and fabrication of the Cryogenic Rocket Engine Stand, Trailerized (CREST)* Design and implement data acquisition systems* Prepare and execute testing procedures and programs* Help build the world’s most integrated Engineering Enterprise System
Venus Aerospace is building a zero-carbon emission spaceplane that will enable one-hour global travel. One year after closing its $3 million seed round, the company will use this new round of funding to mature its three main technologies: a next-generation rocket engine, innovative aircraft shape and leading-edge cooling, which allows the spaceplane to take off from existing spaceports, using existing infrastructure.
With this round, Venus has raised $33M in total funding, including $1 million of non-dilutive government funding.
Over the last year, Venus secured government contracts and scaled fast. Venus designed and built its tech demonstration engine, executed key experiments at hypersonic wind tunnels and propulsion test facilities throughout the U.S., and started a ground test campaign at Spaceport Houston.
"We are excited to continue our partnership with Prime Movers Lab and our other great investors. In the past year, with our initial funding, we have scaled from 3 people to 40. These are the world's best rocket scientists, engineers, and operators," said Sassie Duggleby, CEO and co-founder. "With this funding, we will continue to push forward toward our next technical milestones, hire great people, and scale our organization. We are excited to continue engineering the future of high-speed aviation."
At least they are not claiming 3 years to orbit.Back in the day, companies that disappeared quickly would invoke aero spike engines or slush hydrogen. Same with DoD projects that were failing, so they flailed about invoking these exotic technologies.Maybe these technologies are not so exotic now.
Engine testing was completed at Venus Aerospace Headquarters, located on Spaceport Houston, after 3 months of testing. The test stand was designed and built over 12 months, and all within 18 months of relocating the company from California to Houston.
Venus will begin hypersonic RDRE flight testing with a 20-foot drone to support both national security and internal technology development.
Venus Aerospace is the first company to demonstrate [an RDE with] this particular room-temperature storable propellant combination.
Looks like the hotfire video was only part of a larger media package: Venus Aerospace Benchmarks New Hypersonic EngineQuote from: Aviation ReportEngine testing was completed at Venus Aerospace Headquarters, located on Spaceport Houston, after 3 months of testing. The test stand was designed and built over 12 months, and all within 18 months of relocating the company from California to Houston.Quote from: Aviation ReportVenus will begin hypersonic RDRE flight testing with a 20-foot drone to support both national security and internal technology development.So there's their mechanism for subscale testing and generating revenue from government contracts to help keep them afloat while they work on Stargazer (looks like they have a trademark for that now?).Quote from: Aviation ReportVenus Aerospace is the first company to demonstrate [an RDE with] this particular room-temperature storable propellant combination.
https://twitter.com/PrimeMoversLab/status/1541828522703978497
Room temp storable means non-hydrogen RDE which is a sorta important milestone. The added complexities are nothing to laugh at.
The couple has raised $52 million to develop a hypersonic spaceplane.They chose Houston because it promised a one-stop shop for daily business operations, vehicle development and engine testing. The company’s 72 full-time employees could combine the best parts of aviation and rocketry at a 30,000-square-foot facility near their homes.
Tickets will likely cost two to eight times more than the roughly $12,000 to $15,000 that first-class travelers are paying for flights between California and Asia, said Andrew Duggleby. He said surveys suggest first-class customers would pay more to shave hours off their flight time.
Quote from: Asteroza on 10/30/2022 11:32 pmRoom temp storable means non-hydrogen RDE which is a sorta important milestone. The added complexities are nothing to laugh at.Looks like it's Jet-A and hydrogen peroxide.https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/houston-spaceplane-startup-18192717.php#photo-24017316QuoteThe couple has raised $52 million to develop a hypersonic spaceplane.They chose Houston because it promised a one-stop shop for daily business operations, vehicle development and engine testing. The company’s 72 full-time employees could combine the best parts of aviation and rocketry at a 30,000-square-foot facility near their homes.QuoteTickets will likely cost two to eight times more than the roughly $12,000 to $15,000 that first-class travelers are paying for flights between California and Asia, said Andrew Duggleby. He said surveys suggest first-class customers would pay more to shave hours off their flight time.
Venus Aerospace, announced today it successfully completed the first U.S. flight test of a next-generation rocket engine: a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE). This milestone marks a breakthrough in American aerospace, with a design ultimately aimed at enabling vehicles to travel four to six times the speed of sound from a conventional runway.Theorized since the 1980s, a high-thrust RDRE capable of practical application has never been flown in the United States—and possibly anywhere in the world. Today's test represents the first-ever flight of an American-developed engine of its kind, proving that Venus's proprietary RDRE—an affordable, compact propulsion system delivering unprecedented efficiency and thrust—can operate under real-world conditions."This is the moment we've been working toward for five years," said Sassie Duggleby, CEO and Co-founder of Venus Aerospace. "We've proven that this technology works—not just in simulations or the lab, but in the air. With this milestone, we're one step closer to making high-speed flight accessible, affordable, and sustainable."The demonstration took place at Spaceport America in New Mexico, following a night of heavy winds. On the first flight attempt, Venus's RDRE successfully launched and flew its engine, validating performance and system integrity under flight conditions."Spaceport America was created to make space history, and Venus Aerospace delivered a milestone moment for hypersonics today," said Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director, Spaceport America. "Getting a rotating detonation rocket engine to the launch pad is an achievement few thought possible in such a short time. We're thrilled to host innovators like Venus, whose breakthroughs are redefining what's possible in spaceflight."Compared to traditional rocket engines, RDREs offer improved efficiency and compactness, making them particularly suited for advanced aerospace applications. Venus's engine is designed to be affordable and scalable for both defense and commercial systems, including future vehicles that could fly passengers from Los Angeles to Tokyo in under two hours."This milestone is a testament to what's possible when engineering rigor meets entrepreneurial urgency," said Dr. Rodney Bowersox, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University. "Rotating detonation rocket engines have been a scientific curiosity for decades. Venus is showing the world that they aren't just academically interesting—they're buildable, testable, and operational under real-world conditions. This is how aerospace innovation should look."Venus's RDRE is also engineered to work with the company's exclusive VDR2 air-breathing detonation ramjet. This pairing enables aircraft to take off from a runway and transition to speeds exceeding Mach 6, maintaining hypersonic cruise without the need for rocket boosters. Venus is planning full-scale propulsion testing and vehicle integration of this system, moving toward their ultimate goal: the Stargazer M4, a Mach 4 reusable passenger aircraft."This milestone proves our engine works outside the lab, under real flight conditions," added Andrew Duggleby, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. "Rotating detonation has been a long-sought gain in performance. Venus' RDRE solved the last but critical steps to harness the theoretical benefits of pressure gain combustion. We've built an engine that not only runs, but runs reliably and efficiently—and that's what makes it scalable. This is the foundation we need that, combined with a ramjet, completes the system from take-off to sustained hypersonic flight."
Venus Aerospace claims a 10% gain in Isp over 'conventional engines' with its Rotating Detonation Rocket.That's like taking a Merlin-1D from its sea level Isp (282s) to its vacuum Isp (310s). https://businesswire.com/news/home/20230614101570/en/Airbus-Ventures-Invests-in-Venus-AerospaceTheir rocket engines will be used to fly a Mach 3 drone.
https://twitter.com/ToughSf/status/1670461371404673026QuoteVenus Aerospace claims a 10% gain in Isp over 'conventional engines' with its Rotating Detonation Rocket.That's like taking a Merlin-1D from its sea level Isp (282s) to its vacuum Isp (310s). https://businesswire.com/news/home/20230614101570/en/Airbus-Ventures-Invests-in-Venus-AerospaceTheir rocket engines will be used to fly a Mach 3 drone.
