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Canadian rocket manufacturer Reaction Dynamics has announced plans to conduct the inaugural launch and suborbital flight test of their RE-102 hybrid rocket engine and Aurora vehicle. The test is scheduled to take place at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia in 2025.
The Aurora suborbital mission will serve as the maiden flight qualification test for Reaction Dynamics’ rocket engine in the vacuum of space. The two-stage vehicle is designed to reach an altitude of 125 kilometers above Earth, providing critical performance data and demonstrating the company’s technological capabilities.
Reaction Dynamics’ RE-102 hybrid rocket engine incorporates the first-ever hybrid propulsion system family to feature regeneratively-cooled thrust chamber assemblies. This innovation is expected to significantly enhance the engine’s efficiency and performance.
Bachar Elzein, CEO of Reaction Dynamics, expressed confidence in the RE-102 engine’s capabilities, stating that extensive hot fire tests have demonstrated the engine’s ability to maintain performance during prolonged burn periods. This achievement is attributed to the company’s patented innovations, which they are eager to validate in the vacuum of space during the upcoming suborbital mission.
The Aurora suborbital rocket, standing at 7.3 meters tall, will launch from the Mid-Range Launch Rail at the Koonibba Test Range. This facility, operated by Southern Launch in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation, offers flexibility in mission timeframes to meet customer requirements.
Lloyd Damp, CEO of Southern Launch, emphasized the company’s role in facilitating tests of technologies like those developed by Reaction Dynamics. He expressed pride in hosting the Aurora suborbital mission and highlighted the potential of this novel hybrid propulsion system to drive technological advancements across the entire space industry.
The collaboration between Reaction Dynamics and Southern Launch exemplifies the global nature of space exploration and technological innovation. By combining Canadian engineering expertise with Australian launch facilities, this partnership plans to push the boundaries of rocket propulsion and pave the way for more efficient and cost-effective space access.
Reaction Dynamics, claims to have developed a hybrid propulsion technology that addresses some of the limitations of classical hybrid rocket engines. Their propulsion systems can sustain longer burn times while maintaining highly efficient combustion. The company claims that this advancement enables the company to offer dedicated launches at a fraction of the cost of competitive smallsat launchers, however no details on cost were provided.
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