. 24/7 Space News .
ROCKET SCIENCE
Aerospike rocket engines are more efficient than classic ones
by Staff Writers
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 22, 2020

"The root cause of current rocket's high cost is caused by propellants that are volatile, corrosive, cryogenic, toxic, requiring extreme safety measures, complex and highly expensive fabrication technologies and operations."

On December 20th, 2019 ARCA started the tests for its advanced aerospike engine LAS 25DA, for the water-based, electric Launch Assist System (LAS) rocket.

After reading the test data from the sensors for both classic and aerospike rocket engines, we clearly saw that the aerospike rocket engines are more efficient than the classic ones.

The tested aerospike engine has a dry weight of 184kg (405lbs) and it's rated to 25 metric tons of thrust. It is currently the world largest, being shy of only 10cm, (4 inches) in diameter compared with the largest circular aerospike engine ever built, Rocketdyne's 250K pounds of thrust from the middle of the 60s.

Classic and aerospike rocket engine comparison
ARCA tested initially the classic engine and then the aerospike engine on the same stand, using the same tank and same feed system, same pressures, the same sensors, allowing us to further find unprecedented answers regarding the direct comparison between the two engine configurations.

Having this capable installation available, we were able to draw an initial conclusion that the aerospikes are indeed better than the bell shaped nozzle engines, and not by a little, but by a large margin

For the first test we didn't want to push the test installation too far, and for the following tests we will increase work parameters until we will reach a specific impulse in the range of 60s. We can see that the aerospike had a 15% higher specific impulse but a question arises: From where this increase of specific impulse?

We do have some theories, but until we are not going to perform further tests and be sure, we don't want to publicly conclude at this point. We expect that this percentage to get even higher as the test pressure increases as the push effect of engine exhaust on the central plug will increase.

A "classic" bell-shaped nozzle works efficiently at only one flight level. After that point, the engine isn't properly taking advantage of the atmospheric pressure decreases as the gases are contained by the nozzle. An aerospike engine exhaust jet ideally expands from sea level up to space, ensuring superior efficiency at all flight levels.

Launch Assist System, an alternative to polluting rockets
Current rockets are using polluting, explosive, corrosive, toxic, carcinogenic propellants. At launch, a heavy rocket releases polluting chemicals into the atmosphere as much as 1 million cars running simultaneously.

ARCA created the Launch Assist System (LAS) an electric, water-based rocket that works as first stage, or booster for rocket launchers.

The water from the tank is electrically heated to 250C. When the water is injected into the engine, part of it flashes into water vapor.

By using water, such a system isn't only clean, but unprecedentedly safe and cost effective.

The root cause of current rocket's high cost is caused by propellants that are volatile, corrosive, cryogenic, toxic, requiring extreme safety measures, complex and highly expensive fabrication technologies and operations.

The rockets are using the majority of their fuel at take off when they are heavy. LAS can accelerate rockets to 3,000m (9,000ft) and Mach 2, reducing the polluting propellants with 25%, or increase their payload capability with 30%, using just water and electricity.

ARCA's Haas 2CA, initially designed as a Single Stage to Orbit Rocket, will reduce its polluting propellant mass from 16 to 6 tons using 18 tons of water instead, while keeping its payload capability.

How efficient is a water-based, electric rocket?
Like early electric cars, an electric water-based rocket is not as efficient as one using polluting fuels, but it's ideal as launch booster, or first stage, because it's able to generate high thrust at launch.

A first stage/booster makes its job as long as it contributes to the altitude increase and acceleration of its upper stage and this exactly what the Launch Assist System does.

Even if the specific impulse (the term that defines the efficiency of rocket engines) of the Launch Assist System is in the range of 60 seconds, which represents around four times less than a classic rocket using polluting propellants, this doesn't prevent LAS to increase the altitude and speed of the rockets it carries in a pollution free and unprecedented cost effective way.

See a video of test here

Read more about the aerospike and LAS technology in the White Paper here


Related Links
ARCA
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news 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.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


ROCKET SCIENCE
Russia claims edge as US lags in hypersonic weapons development
Washington DC (Sputnik) Jan 20, 2020
Last week, US President Donald Trump admitted that the United States is working on the development of hypersonic rockets, noting that the US is seeking to add them to its arsenal of "big, powerful, accurate, lethal, and fast" missiles. The US military has failed in the domain of hypersonic arms research and development and it will take years for America to regain its once leading position, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Hyten said during a speech on Friday at the Centre f ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

ROCKET SCIENCE
Meir, Koch complete battery swaps to upgrade station power systems

Collins Aerospace to supply critical subsystems for NASA's Orion spacecraft

US tech sector sees only modest relief in China trade deal

In Seychelles, nature is prized above mass tourism

ROCKET SCIENCE
Russia claims edge as US lags in hypersonic weapons development

Aerospike rocket engines are more efficient than classic ones

EU announces funding for Ariane 6 and other space-tech

Exquadrum-Dynetics team test full-scale OpFires rocket

ROCKET SCIENCE
Nine finalists chosen in Mars 2020 rover naming contest

Could future homes on the Moon and Mars be made of fungi?

NASA's Mars 2020 Rover closer to getting its name

Impressive cloud formations over Mars' northern polar ice cap

ROCKET SCIENCE
China may have over 40 space launches in 2020

China launches powerful rocket in boost for 2020 Mars mission

China's Xichang set for 20 space launches in 2020

China sends six satellites into orbit with single rocket

ROCKET SCIENCE
Europe backs space sector investment with EUR 200 million of financing

Budget battle hampers EU in space

Lockheed Martin Ships Mobile Communications Satellite To Launch Site

Maxar Technologies to sell MDA to Northern Private Capital for CAD$1 Billion

ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA funds AnalySwift, Purdue tech to speed up composite deployable structure design

Study reveals unexpected rise in potent greenhouse gas

No need to dig too deep to find gold

NASA-funded space radiation studies could save astronauts' lives

ROCKET SCIENCE
Astronomers reveal interstellar thread of one of life's building blocks

Cold Neptune" and 2 temperate Super-Earths found orbiting nearby stars

Cosmic origins of phosphorus, a building block for life, traced by scientists

Telescope upgrade, move will aid in search for exoplanets

ROCKET SCIENCE
Looking back at a New Horizons New Year's to remember

NASA's Juno navigators enable Jupiter cyclone discovery

The PI's Perspective: What a Year, What a Decade!

Reports of Jupiter's Great Red Spot demise greatly exaggerated









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.