A Florida rocket development company, Rocket Crafters, said Wednesday it concluded a new round of test-firings of its hybrid rocket engine, and plans a test flight with a small rocket in New Mexico later this year.

"We're excited about the data we've seen and to fly a rocket soon," said Rob Fabian, the company president. "The engine performance for the tests were on track with models."

The tests were conducted over the last few months at the company's facility in Cocoa, Fla., about 20 miles south of Kennedy Space Center. The company test-fired the largest experimental version of the engine yet, which it calls the Comet and emits 5,000 pounds of thrust.

By comparison, small launch company Rocket Lab provides satellite launches with an Electron rocket that has 34,000 pounds of thrust.

Two tests were flawless, Fabian said, while a third saw a small explosion, but the company determined the problem was with an ancillary part of the test engine and not in the core design.

Several space companies are using 3D printers for parts, but Rocket Crafters believes it is the first to 3D-print its patented plastic fuel core. The plastic is stable until it mixes with liquid propellant to power the company's STAR-3D engine.

Rocket Crafters plans to test-launch a sounding rocket, or small rocket, to about 60,000 feet from New Mexico's Spaceport America, Fabian said. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a date hasn't been set.

Source: United Press International

Related Links
Rocket Crafters
Space Technology News - Applications and Research

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

China tests 3D printing in space for first time
Beijing (XNA) May 11, 2020
A "space 3D printer" developed independently by China and two samples it printed in orbit successfully returned to Earth Friday, according to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). They came back in the return capsule of China's new-generation manned spaceship for testing, which was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's island province of Hainan on Tuesday and touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Frida ... read more