Many of us have probably wondered since the days of the Space Race of the 20th century if widespread space travel will ever become a reality. There’s good news for space enthusiasts. A UK rocket launch using a new type of air-breathing engine can make it happen.
The man went to the Moon already in 1969. So, you might wonder why, by 2021, space travel is still not accessible to the average consumer? The primary obstacle is simple: launching a rocket remains a costly operation. A typical rocket engine has to burn an enormous amount of expensive fuel and oxidizer on its way to space. And after one use, it becomes unusable. But these disadvantages might become history soon. A UK rocket launch market is developing fast, and a new type of propulsion technology is underway. It’s the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) that gets the oxidizer from the atmosphere. Here’s a closer look at how this new type of rocket engine can transform space access and take us to the next era of spaceflight.
The Value of Space Exploration
Many people see the attempts to explore and utilize outer space territory as an unnecessary luxury. The United States and the Soviet Union once tried to demonstrate their might with scientific endeavors in space. But for the average people living their everyday lives, these space explorations seemed to change little.
However, we might not realize it, but many of our modern life conveniences are possible thanks to advancements in rocket manufacturing and various space missions. For example, we’ve got satellites orbiting the Earth. They deliver us live television and enable around the world connectivity. They also help scientists to keep an eye on our climate and natural habitat. These observations help to optimize land use and foresee natural catastrophes.
Space Travel Gathers Momentum Again
In 2021, space travel is bound to become increasingly important again. There’s a new vision for the future of space exploration that entails taking the production of goods and energy into space, taking tourists up there, and even colonizing the uncharted territories. Meanwhile, it remains a goal to reach Mars and clean up the space environment from all the debris accumulated there.
Does this sound like science-fiction to you? Believe it or not, the new space technology that can make it all happen is in development. And the work is not carried out by governments anymore. In the 21st century, it’s entrepreneurial businesses that lead space travel.
The Upcoming UK Rocket Launch Promises a New Era
If the space-access industry wants to take off in the upcoming years, it needs to steer away from the expensive rocket technology used during the 20th century. These robust engines require the vehicle body to carry enormous amounts of fuel and oxidizer. The drive upwards gets created by projecting the mass of fuel and oxidizer combustion out of the rocket. Not only are the fuel and oxidizer expensive, but they also add extra structural mass to the vehicle. That causes several problems with mission time and performance. Plus, it restricts the weight a space vehicle can carry.
The next UK rocket launch will get powered by a new type of engine: the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE). Its spacecraft propulsion technology, developed by a UK space industry company, Reaction Engines, is unlike anything before. The engine needs to use onboard oxygen only once the vehicle has left the atmosphere. Before that, it can pull in oxygen from the surrounding air. That means the aircraft can have thermal protection, an undercarriage, and wings. These features make it possible to send one vehicle up to space and back hundreds of times.
Testing the Engine
The most crucial component of the SABRE engine is the low-weight precooler. It can cool airstreams from 1000 °C to 20 °C in less than 0.05 seconds and was tested successfully in 2012. But the precooler needs some extra help to stay functional in high-temperature conditions. So, the Hot Heat Exchanger was developed and tested next. And in 2019, the Hot Heat Exchanger, together with the precooler, delivered the objective: the precooler was able to cool a MACH 5 (faster than the speed of sound) airflow.
Using SABRE Technology in Other Industries
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s been a great interest in the SABRE technology from companies outside the space industry. So, Reaction Engines is also working with commercial aircraft companies that need to find new cost-effective solutions to stay resilient during the pandemic. SABRE’s thermal-management systems provide solutions that can improve airplane engines and make them more cost-effective. Other industries that can benefit from more intelligent and sustainable thermal management are energy, industrial processing, and motorsport.
Conclusion
The bottom line is this: SABRE technology will change the future of space missions. For the first time in history, it gives us a propulsion technology that’s affordable and reusable. And thanks to the reduced costs, there can be more launches, which brings about a chance to cultivate lucrative businesses around space travel. Experts believe that by 2040, the global space market is worth over $1 trillion. That’s mighty progress, and SABRE will have a vital role in it. The initial tests have been successful: so all eyes will be on the launch day.
Would you like to go to space for a vacation in 2030? Share your thoughts in the comments?
