Sierra Space has secured a USD 22.6 million Air Force contract to advance the development of its VR35K-A engine for future launch vehicles. The contract will facilitate further work on the engine, including refining its flight-weight engine component design.
The VR35K-A engine, utilizing liquid-hydrogen and liquid-oxygen propellants, is designed to generate 35,000 lbs force of thrust. Sierra Space claims that the engine offers higher performance and thrust efficiency compared to existing upper-stage engines, enabling a 30% increase in payload mass to orbit.
The VR35K-A engine incorporates a fuel-rich staged combustion cycle and a thrust chamber assembly design called “VORTEX” for enhanced specific impulse and increased pressure in a smaller volume.
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