The dawn of orbital class air-breathing rocketry
Rocket engines have been the standard throughout the annals of space. The problem is that traditional rocketry has reached its performance ceiling and cannot meet the space ecosystem’s growth demands. To continue the march towards a true space economy, the industry needs a paradigm shift.
The performance and efficiency afforded by ARC’s hybrid air-breathing engines far exceeds the theoretical limits of traditional rocketry and allows for the accommodation of wide mission sets and unique customer needs.
Traditional rockets take as long as 3 months to turn around for reuse. ARC’s vehicle can be serviced and re-certified for flight within 1-3 days due to its air-breathing properties and construction which greatly reduces the stress on the engine components during flight. By airbreathing throughout the first stage, we’re able to dramatically increase our Delta-V (reaching Mach 5) enabling our second rocket stage the velocity to reach its destination and deliver the payload without the use of an Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV). Thus, reducing the cost to launch AND the cost for payload delivery, as well as providing routine launch cadence that can scale with, and expand, the space industry.
Traditional rockets are holding back the industry. Airbreathing has the unique ability to scale with demand and drive industry expansion. ARC’s ACE will usher in a new era of spaceflight.
ACE Integrated SysteM
DELV
DELV is a vertical take-off and landing launch vehicle. The vehicle’s geometry and aerodynamics significantly reduce drag during flight but allow us to maximize drag during re-entry by a simple change in orientation. The enormous heat load generated during high speed flight within the atmosphere is a major pain point for most air-breathing systems. Low drag combined with our game-changing heat management approach allows us to sustain flight in the hypersonic regime for long periods without significantly impacting structural integrity or reusability.
Our patented geometry isn’t just limited to launch vehicles. It is versatile enough to accommodate various propulsion systems and be used in a number of applications.
LEAPS
Our rocket based combined cycle propulsion system has a unique approach that allows us to use the same systems during air-breathing and rocket mode. This allows seamless and simple transitions between each operational mode and massively reduces dead weight. Our engines will be operational from Mach 0 – 10 with an estimated ISP of 1800 (Most traditional rocket systems operate around 300).
LEAPS leverages flight tested and mature sub-systems, but integrates these systems intelligently and in a way that drastically improves system-wide efficiency and reliability.
Our technology
Vehicle Design.
The geometry of our vehicle increases efficiency, maximizes reusability and prioritizes mission readiness.
Dynamic Compression.
A dynamic compression system allows us to operate efficiently from a very low Mach number and our unique system architecture and cycle keeps it operational through the entire flight range, which eliminates most of the system’s dead weight.
Efficient Design.
Altitude compensating systems and nozzle choice reduce propellant consumption and therefore lower the overall mass of the rocket.
Oxidizer Choice.
Our architecture allows the use of varied fuels and oxidizers, giving us greater control to adjust for individual missions’ objectives.
Heat Mangement.
Our innovative thermal management systems allow our propulsion cycle to operate at maximum efficiency even at the extreme temperatures not traditionally tolerated by air-breathing systems.
Weight Savings.
Our propulsion system and its propellant are significantly less massive compared to their rocket counterparts. This weight savings is then applied to innovations in reusability, CIAC and high utilization on both the propulsion and vehicle systems.
Design Integration.
Our unique cycle and architecture provide a solution to the thermodynamic challenges of high-speed flight, allowing extreme flexibility and optimal sub-system efficiencies while improving safety margins.