Venus Aerospace Rotating Detonation Nozzle Development

Venus Aerospace proposes the testing of four nozzle contours to obtain high-fidelity datasets to anchor future experimental and CFD-based high area ratio RDRE nozzle development efforts. Testing will be conducted using proven RDRE hardware from Venus with modular interfaces for rapid integration and test. From the test data Venus will characterize the relative performance of four unique baseline RDRE nozzle contours . The Phase I effort will conclude with a Phase II planning effort containing (1) suggestions for optimized hardware for transition flight to demonstrations, (2) requirements for instrumentation to anchor later CFD models, and (3) a draft test plan. The Phase III plan is to conduct a high-speed, high-altitude, flight demonstration an RDRE with an optimal RDRE nozzle. Venus Aerospace will will first transition this flight proven model into a reusable hypersonic flight system to meet US Defense needs for rapid high speed test. The NASA Flight Opportunities program will utilize this system for high-altitude and high-speed research. The optimal RDRE will also be able to address space based missions such as landers, in-space mobility and logistic operations, and small launch systems. Venus will target integration with commercial providers in these mission area, as well as those that support NASA programs for the Human Landing System (HLS), and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) lander missions.

Development of Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) will aid the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate priorities for multiple programs. Programs such as Space Launch System (SLS), Human Landing System (HLS), Commercial LEO space stations, and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) lander missions would directly benefit from the technology as the RDRE provides a propulsion solution that is both more fuel efficient (up to 10% increase in specific impulse) and smaller form factor (up to 70% smaller in length). Specifically for this effort investigation into the RDRE nozzle geometry will aid in the understanding and optimization for vacuum operations needed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and other planetary bodies within the solar system. RDRE expands the capabilities of these programs and missions beyond what is currently provided by traditional rocket propulsion systems. Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines (RDRE) technology opens the commercial high-speed transportation, a $200B/year market, and commerical space markets. Additionally, the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines will be used for governmental hypersonic flight-test-as-a-service capabilities, Department of Defense multi-mission drones, and United States Space Force operational space propulsion capabilities.

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