New Frontier Aerospace

[TheKutKu]

An Interesting company....
https://fiso.spiritastro.net/telecon/Sponable_11-8-23/Sponable_invite.pdfhttps://www.upi.com/Science_News/20...ier-aerospace-mjolnir-contract/5151677006282/https://www.popularmechanics.com/te...know-about-pentagon-hypersonic-rocket-engine/They were founded in 2020 by Jeff Sponable, a long time USAF and DARPA employee with a long history with RLV (from X-30 to DC-X (as manager) to X-33 and finally program manager for DARPA's XS-1) work and a trained astronaut.

https://www.nfaero.com/Their goal is to make a VTVL (yes, VTVL) point-to-point Rocket propelled hypersonic transport.

And a PDF explaining their goal (also attached)

It does seem like a pipe dream... except they also have some serious achievement and more reasonable goals:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVvqmmJyRpQ

https://spacenews.com/new-frontier-aerospace-tests-rocket-engine-for-point-to-point-travel/
They recently succesfuly tested a small (13.5 kN) FFSC Methalox engine. It took them 4 years to develop it. They sadly haven't shared footage of its hotfire yet. They said that they want to eventually increase its thrust to 267 kN. They want to commercialize this engine, but more importantly they have a near time application for this engine in an orbital transfer vehicle.

https://techport.nasa.gov/view/154632 This is a project that they have been working on with funding from and in cooperation with NASA (MFSC)

This Orbital Transfer Vehicle with quite decent performances is at an interesting size, it is larger than some existing OTV (Rocket Lab's Curie kick stage or D-Orbit's ION) but smaller than Impulse Space's upcoming large Helios OTV.

 

[Archibald]

Ah yes, Jess Sponable. He indeed has a long and prolific career since the late 1970's.

a VTVL (yes, VTVL) point-to-point Rocket propelled hypersonic transport.

No, no and no. VTVL is not practical for passenger transportation. Rockets are noisy as frack. And hypersonic is a sonic boom & thermal nightmare.

 

[publiusr]

There is an abandoned airport in Greece...IIRC... maybe that could be of use?

 

[martinbayer]

An Interesting company....
https://fiso.spiritastro.net/telecon/Sponable_11-8-23/Sponable_invite.pdfhttps://www.upi.com/Science_News/20...ier-aerospace-mjolnir-contract/5151677006282/https://www.popularmechanics.com/te...know-about-pentagon-hypersonic-rocket-engine/They were founded in 2020 by Jeff Sponable, a long time USAF and DARPA employee with a long history with RLV (from X-30 to DC-X (as manager) to X-33 and finally program manager for DARPA's XS-1) work and a trained astronaut.

https://www.nfaero.com/Their goal is to make a VTVL (yes, VTVL) point-to-point Rocket propelled hypersonic transport.

And a PDF explaining their goal (also attached)

It does seem like a pipe dream... except they also have some serious achievement and more reasonable goals:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVvqmmJyRpQ

https://spacenews.com/new-frontier-aerospace-tests-rocket-engine-for-point-to-point-travel/
They recently succesfuly tested a small (13.5 kN) FFSC Methalox engine. It took them 4 years to develop it. They sadly haven't shared footage of its hotfire yet. They said that they want to eventually increase its thrust to 267 kN. They want to commercialize this engine, but more importantly they have a near time application for this engine in an orbital transfer vehicle.

https://techport.nasa.gov/view/154632 This is a project that they have been working on with funding from and in cooperation with NASA (MFSC)
View attachment 735487
This Orbital Transfer Vehicle with quite decent performances is at an interesting size, it is larger than some existing OTV (Rocket Lab's Curie kick stage or D-Orbit's ION) but smaller than Impulse Space's upcoming large Helios OTV.

OK, that is a new variation of insanity - a warmed over lifting body vehicle concept with "hypersonic" (DUH!) rocket engines used for *VTVL*! It sure should be fun to watch how many, if any, (un)fashionably bearded short haired crypto bros might latch onto that cockamamie scheme...

 

[Archibald]

cockamamie

Coke à mamie ? why on Earth do you want grandmothers sniffing coke ?

 

[martinbayer]

Coke à mamie ? why on Earth do you want grandmothers sniffing coke ?

Both of my grandmothers are dead and buried since decades, so I have zero concerns of what they might or might not be sniffing in any hypothetical afterlife at this particular point in time, but thank you oh so very much for your heartfelt consideration, my dearest Archibald.

 

[Archibald]

Mine too: 1996 and 2010, respectively. Godspeed to them.

 

[publiusr]

Coke à mamie ? why on Earth do you want grandmothers sniffing coke ?

They have to have energy to handle the toddlers left behind by baby-mamas who go to clubs.

 

[TheKutKu]

https://www.prlog.org/13083714-new-...s-its-revolutionary-mjlnir-rocket-engine.html

New Frontier Aerospace (NFA) has achieved a major milestone with a series of successful hot fire tests of its 3D-printed Mjölnir rocket engine, the world's most advanced compact pump-fed rocket engine. Featuring a full-flow staged combustion cycle, Mjölnir represents the leading edge of liquid rocket engine efficiency, making Mjölnir ideal for high-performance reusable rockets, hypersonic vehicles and orbital transfer spacecraft.

Powered by clean liquid natural gas (LNG), Mjölnir is net carbon negative when sourced from bio-waste, offering a sustainable solution for next-generation aerospace missions. This breakthrough underscores NFA's commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation while prioritizing environmental responsibility.

Mjölnir will propel NFA's Pathfinder hypersonic Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to its first hovering flight in early 2026. The engine will also drive NFA's Bifröst orbital transfer spacecraft, set to fly in space by 2027. Mjölnir is now available as a standalone product, offering customers a cutting-edge propulsion solution for their own missions.