Wed, Apr 02, 2003
XCOR Aerospace announced that it has successfully completed
multiple test firings of their new LOX/kerosene rocket engine, the
XR-4K5.
The new engine is considerably more powerful than the previous
isopropyl alcohol fueled rocket engine used in the EZ-Rocket. The
new engine produces 1,800 pounds of thrust, and runs at two and a
half times the chamber pressure of the previous engine.
According to Dan DeLong, XCOR Chief Engineer:
“This is XCOR’s first engine designed to run on liquid
oxygen and kerosene. The initial tests are in the heat sink
configuration, and we expect to develop it further into a
regenerative cooled version.” DeLong stated: “The
XR-4K5 also uses our most recent electrical igniter design that is
smaller and lighter than previous generations.”
Jeff Greason, XCOR CEO said: “We are very excited about
the new engine since it moves us closer to our goal of a reliable
and economical vehicle for space tourism as well as educational and
commercial uses. The more powerful engine and use of readily
available and nontoxic fuels is a notable development in
reliability and cost control of operating suborbital
vehicles. XCOR is developing the XR-4K5 for future
applications, including the propulsion system for the Xerus
project.”
The Xerus (pronunciation: zEr'us) project is part of a joint
marketing agreement between XCOR Aerospace and Space Adventures,
Ltd., that provides Space Adventures the first 600 flights to 62
miles (100 km) altitude aboard XCOR’s Xerus sub-orbital
vehicle, designed specifically for space tourist flights. According
to a recent study by the Futon Corp., a Bethesda, MD aerospace
consulting firm, the space travel market could generate revenues of
over $1 billion annually by 2021.
XCOR Aerospace is a California corporation located in Mojave,
California. The company is in the business of developing and
producing safe, reliable and reusable rocket engines and rocket
powered vehicles.
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