One thing we are sure now is that, with aerospike propulsion, the bigger you make it, the better it gets. For this small one, it was pretty tricky and complex scaling down to cool the surfaces.
Aerospikes are very interesting because they have a regenerative cooling system. When you have tail-first reentry, there are a lot of benefits in terms of the shape of the aerospike that’s helping you dissipate the heat loads and have a smoother reentry.
DLR has tested a MethaLox aerospike engine for the first time, on behalf of the start-up Pangea Aerospace.The DLR and Pangea Aerospace teams successfully conducted several hot-run tests using the European Research and Technology Test Stand P8.Aerospike technology promises significantly higher efficiency compared to conventional propulsion systems.
Does anybody have more information on their rocket, the Meso? There's a rendering and some info on newspace.im but I don't know where it comes from and there is nothing about E.G. height or fairing dimensions
The scaling down issue is intriguing. I wonder if that's gotten easier compared to the past?
.@PangeaAerospace has completed a successful hot fire test campaign of its aerospike engine. The longest run was more than two minutes. Here's the full video - youtube.com/watch?v=chDMW2…
It seems like Pangea is deprioritizing launch services: at some point between December 22nd, 2022 and today, they removed mention of their Meso rocket from their main website.
According to this article, the company "has pivoted to focus on supplying propulsion systems both for rockets and for in-space applications." The article title is even more stark, saying "Pangea Ditch Rocket Development and Sign on to Provide Engines for US Launch Startup." While their plans for Meso may merely be "indefinitely shelved," I don't see a substantive difference between that and cancellation, considering that the market for small launchers is shrinking, not growing (e.g., if you don't begin serious efforts until like five years from now, you're even less likely to succeed).
Quote from: trimeta on 04/19/2023 10:19 pmAccording to this article, the company "has pivoted to focus on supplying propulsion systems both for rockets and for in-space applications." The article title is even more stark, saying "Pangea Ditch Rocket Development and Sign on to Provide Engines for US Launch Startup." While their plans for Meso may merely be "indefinitely shelved," I don't see a substantive difference between that and cancellation, considering that the market for small launchers is shrinking, not growing (e.g., if you don't begin serious efforts until like five years from now, you're even less likely to succeed).I'd call that being smart: making a buck supplying something special (like an aerospike) to some other bunny (or cluster of bunnies) rather than trying to compete with them - until they go bust and you can gather up all their IP and run with it, or not, as you choose.The easiest path in any business (especially aerospace) is to build upon the ashes of others who've gone before.
Fire!! We have achieved a significant #milestone for our #CubeSat #propulsion system, U-Nyx, by successfully and repeatedly firing our bipropellant thruster. In this test campaign, we are characterizing different combustion chamber configurations, providing key inputs for optimization towards a flight-ready thruster. We are continuing to work on the next generation of #green in-space #propulsion systems to make it fly soon!
Great news!! A new significant milestone for #PangeaAerospace and ARCOS!We’ve successfully fired and validated our bio-methane and oxygen, bi-material combustion chamber that will power the ARCOS aerospike engine. It worked together with two types of single-piece injector heads designed for rapid reusability, easy inspection, and minimal refurbishment.We were also able to validate the advanced manufacturing techniques and materials used, which represent breakthrough technologies for the aerospace industry. They enable us to design and create the propulsion systems of the future much faster, with fewer parts, making them reusable, and achieving the best performance-to-cost ratio.This engine will serve any stage of a launcher providing unmatched performance, enabling reusability and a lower carbon footprint. It’s a pivotal milestone for creating the propulsion platform of the future, where high efficiency, reusability, and sustainability all collide into the same product.Thanks for your trust and for supporting innovative technologies, @esa , @CDTI_innovacionThanks, @DLR_en @DLR_de team for once again hosting our most important milestones.Special thanks to our strong partner @AeniumE , for helping us push the boundaries of what's possible, again!Congratulations to our unbeatable team, which knows how to overcome every challenge!Do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in ARCOS or any of the technologies showcased. Enjoy these blue diamonds! 💎
