DocM Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Well, well, well....this is VERY interesting what with the talk about the SR-72 and and DARPA's XS-1 reusable hoeizontal launcher projects. The key technology in Reaction Engine's powerplants is a powerful precooler, which was successfully tested last summer. The tests went so well ESA found no showstoppers and REL got funding from the UK govt. http://www.reactionengines.co.uk http://moonandback.com/2014/01/13/u-s-air-force-to-evaluate-british-firms-spaceship-engine/ U.S. Air Force to Evaluate British Firms Spaceship Engine Technology May Offer Unique Performance and Vehicle Integration Advantages LONDON, U.K. Reaction Engines Ltd has announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Air Force Research Laboratorys Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQ). The CRADA provides a framework to assess the performance, applications and development paths for RELs SABRE air-breathing rocket engine, a new class of aerospace engine designed for low cost, responsive space access and high speed atmospheric flight. This CRADA is the first U.S. government formal relationship with Reaction Engines Ltd and will be used to inform U.S. government stakeholders about the SABRE engines potential for hypersonic vehicle applications. Alan Bond, Managing Director commented The signing of this agreement with AFRL builds on an extraordinary period for Reaction Engines Ltd which has seen the successful demonstration of SABREs ultra-lightweight high performance heat exchanger technology and a UK Government commitment of ?60m ($100m) towards the next phase of development of the SABRE engine. AFRL/RQ project manager Barry Hellman stated that This CRADA opens the door for joint development and testing to help AFRL understand the SABRE engines technical details, and whether it may offer unique performance and vehicle integration advantages when compared to traditional hypersonic vehicle concepts. We look forward to exploring the engine and its lightweight heat exchangers which have the potential to enable hypersonic air-breathing rocket propulsion. Reaction Engines has developed ultra-lightweight air heat exchanger technology that can transfer the same amount of heat generated by an electricity power station (450MW) using equipment that weighs less than a standard car and can cool air from 1,000?C (1832?F) to minus 150?C (-238?F) in 1/100th second whilst preventing the formation of ice at sub-zero temperatures. Combined with unique thermodynamic cycles, Reaction Engines heat exchangers enable a new aerospace engine called SABRE that can fly at Mach 5.5 in the atmosphere (twice as fast as a jet engine) and then subtly transition to a rocket mode of operation allowing spaceflight at up to orbital velocity, or Mach 25 (7.5 kilometres per second). The viability of the SABRE engine has been independently validated by the European Space Agency during a review undertaken at the request of the UK government. SABRE engine pre-cooler testbedSABRE engine concept Skylon SSTO spaceplane LAPCAT A2 hypersonic transport http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/mach5cruise.html FunkyMike, simonlang and The Evil Overlord 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrack Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 One can dream flying that fast. How long till commercial flights have this? 15-20 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Reaction Engine's been talking about flight tests of the SABRE engine in a testbed airframe around 2020. The precooler could be used not only in a dual-mode rocket (air breathing in the atmosphere, liquid oxygen in space) but as an augmented input for turbojets. A potential game changer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Materials World article on SABRE http://www.iom3.org/news/rocket-science-air-breathing-engine-plane-space-travel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlintyV Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Disappointing news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Why? Because it's the USAF, or because it's the US at all? If that's not enoighthen push the UK and ESA to better support it so the Chinese don't flat out steal it. Not that they won't try anyhow.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlintyV Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Why? Because it's the USAF, or because it's the US at all? Then push the UK and ESA to better support it so the Chinese don't flat out steal it. Not that they won't try anyhow.... Because I've seen many great British inventions go to the US before and I don't want to see it happen again. Lovell 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Remember that the AFRL has some of the best R&D facilities on the planet, which will help REL tremendously. Once developed REL can license it out. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 Reaction Engines just posted a very interesting position, Export Control Officer in charge of dealing with defense export control regulations. An in-depth knowledge of US and EU regulatory systems is required. Sounds like somethings moving on the USAF front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watkinsx2 Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Better to develop this with your closest ally if it gets it done quicker than anyone else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 AFRL = US Air Force Research Laboratory Cutting metal. The front end precooler of the engine has been tested. They expect a SABRE to fly in a testbed by 2020. Capabilities Mach 5 high altitude cruise: Fly anywhere in the world in 4 hours Efficient sub-sonic and hypersonic cruise modes Low-cost reusable space access Aircraft-like access to space Operates from runway to orbit and back Order of magnitude reduction in cost vs. existing technology 400 x improved reliability Responsive access to space Reaction Engines Ltd.... AFRL Review Finds Skylon Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 This engine, or ones like it, are the future of space flight. One day, thanks to these, you'll be able to board a plane at a regular airport, take off as normal, experience a normal flight, and then go on up into space... *sigh* One day... Hurry it up you buggers!! Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 It's a remarkable blending of turbojet and hydrogen fueled staged combustion rocket engine. Some parts of it could also be used to build a liquid methane prechilled air engine, but not as cold as SABRE else the methane would freeze solid. That precooler of theirs is a powerful SOB. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Darned efficient one, too. 1,000C to -120C in 1/100th of a second is some serious business. That has applications not just for the Sabre Engine, either -- derivative technologies could be licensed and bring the company a nice steady revenue stream for years to come. British innovation at its' finest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 Whoah!! Mark Thomas, former Chief Engineer for Rolls Royce (civil and military propulsion) is now the Managing Director at Reaction Engines. http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/news_updates.html > My role is to take the Company forward through the development phase of the SABRE programme, and to ensure that my skills and experience are used to maximise the opportunities for the long term commercial success of the business. I believe REL has amazing potential and this is now becoming recognised by Industry and Government. We are dealing with novel concepts and advanced technologies, so no doubt there will be challenges, but I go forward with positive intent and genuine enthusiasm for the task ahead. My thanks go to everyone for their warm welcome and continuing support, and especially to Tom Scrope, whose time and effort as interim MD has kept the company on an even footing through a complex transition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted June 4, 2015 Veteran Share Posted June 4, 2015 I had read about it on a few occasions, thought it would be a long process with funding problems...but then I read this... Reaction Engines has developed ultra-lightweight air heat exchanger technology that can transfer the same amount of heat generated by an electricity power station (450MW) using equipment that weighs less than a standard car and can cool air from 1,000 Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 And that it works has been confirmed by the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Reaction Engines and the USAF. This is a Really Big Deal with wide ranging applications in and out of aerospace. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 - PRESS RELEASE - Monday 15 June 2015 Reaction Engines Ltd. have begun their latest round of rocket engine testing in Westcott, UK. The SABRE engine requires a novel design of the rocket engine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlang Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 wow looks some serious bid here. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Well, well, well....the veil lifts http://www.aviationweek.com/technology/reaction-engines-reveals-inner-secret-sabre-propulsion-technology Reaction Engines Reveals Inner Secret Of Sabre Propulsion Technology The development of a single-stage-to-orbit launch capability has been the Holy Grail to many since the dawn of the space age. Yet achieving orbit in one stage with conventional rocket power is completely impractical and, despite decades of research into alternate concepts, no workable solutions have been found. It is no surprise, then, that for years the space community has been highly skeptical of claims from a British-based developer, Reaction Engines, that it had discovered an answer with a hybrid air-breathing rocket system. But after endorsements of the basic technology from the European Space Agency and, more recently, the U.S. Air Force +DonC 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 British ingenuity at it's best, right there! Really looking forward to the first flight tests of this baby... It'll change transportation forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Sounds like a natural for the SR-72 hypersonic spy plane. It's supposed to use a combined cycle engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Sounds like a natural for the SR-72 hypersonic spy plane. It's supposed to use a combined cycle engine. I'd rather it go into commercial aircraft and spacecraft, TBH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted July 15, 2015 Veteran Share Posted July 15, 2015 I still can't get over that heat exchanger.......that is the real revolutionary part.......and if this engine pans out, it introduces a whole design emphasis for LEO orbiters....back to a shuttle design that can take off and land on the same runway, if one chose to do this. Very interesting development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 if this engine pans out, it introduces a whole design emphasis for LEO orbiters....back to a shuttle design that can take off and land on the same runway, if one chose to do this. Very interesting development. And that is -exactly- what the space industry needs. Rockets are all well and good, but a craft that can take off and land like a regular plane will put them out of business immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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