Low Cost Expendable Launch Technology

The objective of this proposal is to fully evolve a plug cluster aerospike design, moving from state-of-the-art computational analysis to manufacturing, ground testing, and then a full stage integration ground test. If the phase II option is exercised, the aerospike would be flight tested as well. The computational analysis is already well underway, with numerous studies producing results that have never before been published. The ground testing phase will start with a full plug cluster aerospike engine test in a horizontal configuration; our phase I effort laid the groundwork for this test to be carried out later this year. The engine test will be followed in the development cycle by a fully integrated first stage test where the engine, thrust structure, and tanks will be tested together in a vertical configuration. Construction of the vertical test stand flame trench has already begun. Finally, the phase II option would permit the last evolution in engine development: a suborbital flight test of the Firefly Alpha launch vehicle. This flight test data acquisition opportunity is the first of its kind, and we would capitalize on it by flying a highly instrumented aerospike to record and publish performance in unprecedented detail.