LAUNCHER E-2: HIGHEST-PERFORMANCE 3D PRINTED LIQUID ROCKET ENGINE TO REDUCE COST OF DEDICATED SMALL SATELLITE LAUNCH

The Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Air Force (AF) have identified access to responsive, low-cost, small satellite launch systems as a key capability and priority for their space mission sets. Launcher's E-2 liquid rocket engine (thrust: 22,000 lbf) is low cost (3D printing) and will be the highest performance rocket engine for small launch vehicles with 327s specific impulse (ISP) for the booster version and 365s ISP for the second stage version. Launcher’s E-2 engine will advance affordable dedicated small satellite launch vehicle technologies as its higher performance design materially increases a rocket’s payload capacity by consuming less propellant while generating the same thrust. As a result, Launcher’s E-2 liquid rocket engine also reduces the price to deliver small satellites to orbit which is a key capability and priority for the Air Force. This Phase II Work plan will advance the development of Launcher’s E-2 liquid rocket engine. Specifically, we will test-fire the Launcher E-2 injector and combustion chamber for the first time and prove the design is operational while demonstrating the specific impulse performance claim above.