According to New Atlas, the first aerospike engine aircraft in history is scheduled to take off this month. After experiencing a setback when their first MIRA I prototype crashed during takeoff before their ground-based testing of their novel AS-1 LOX/kerosene linear aerospike rocket engine could begin, German firm Polaris Aerospace is getting ready to test two new prototypes, MIRA II and III.
Aerospike: Polaris Raumflugzeuge’s Attempts
The German startup Polaris Raumflugzeuge has led the way in developing aerospike engines for use in aircraft. The company’s MIRA project uses a combination of traditional kerosene turbine engines and a revolutionary AS-1 LOX/kerosene linear aerospike rocket engine to build a fully reusable spaceplane that can perform single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) missions. This massive project has the potential to completely transform passenger and payload transportation in orbit and is a major step toward more effective and affordable space launch systems.
Crash Of MIRA I Prototype
During a crucial test flight, the MIRA I prototype, which was intended to be the first aerospike-powered aircraft in history, tragically crashed. A “hard landing event” resulting from a combination of side wind and “landing gear steering reaction” occurred during takeoff while the aircraft was going at around 105 mph (169 km/h). This caused irreversible damage to the 4.25-meter (13.9-ft) long fiberglass airframe. This tragedy prevented a significant advancement in aerospace technology by happening before the cutting-edge AS-1 LOX/kerosene linear aerospike rocket engine could be ignited in real flight. The subsystems of MIRA I remained mostly intact in spite of this setback, offering important data for the project’s subsequent revisions.
Developments Of MIRA II And III
In an effort to show their dedication to aerospike engine technology, Polaris Aerospace has shown two additional prototypes, MIRA II and III, in the wake of the MIRA I setback. These identical 16.4 foot (5 m) airframes have 30% greater wing area than the previous model and have been improved by design using the knowledge gained from earlier testing. In an effort to accomplish the first aerospike-powered flight in history, both prototypes are outfitted with four kerosene jet turbines and the AS-1 LOX/kerosene linear aerospike rocket engine. By September 2024, Polaris hopes to have these upgraded versions in the air, which might represent a major advancement in aircraft propulsion technology.
Benefits Of Aerospike Engines
Aerospike engines maintain high efficiency across a broad altitude range, which gives them a major advantage over conventional bell-shaped rocket nozzles. Because of its innovative design, which incorporates the ambient air pressure into the nozzle, it can operate consistently from sea level to space. With the altitude-compensating capability, fewer rocket stages might be required, which could result in more fuel-efficient space launches. Although aerospike engines might not outperform bell nozzles at certain altitudes in terms of peak efficiency, they are a good option for more affordable space travel and single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) spacecraft due to their capacity to adjust to shifting atmospheric circumstances.