Hadley Engines Being Provided to Vector Launch

An agreement to provide multiple Hadley engines to Vector Launch has been announced by Ursa Major. The engines will support Vector's recently awarded U.S. national security contract. The 5,000-pound thrust Hadley engines will power the main stage of Vector-R launch vehicles to demonstrate capabilities for future missions.

"Ursa Major's reliable, high-performing rocket engines will help ensure a successful demonstration and create a key national security capability for our company."

Jeff Lane, Chief Technology Officer at Vector Launch.

"Partnering with Ursa Major allows Vector Launch to pair its vehicle and responsive-launch innovations with world-class propulsion," said Jeff Lane, Chief Technology Officer at Vector Launch. "Ursa Major's reliable, high-performing rocket engines will help ensure a successful demonstration and create a key national security capability for our company."

Vector Launch is focused on solving complex national security challenges facing the intelligence community, U.S. Department of Defense and other government agencies.

Mission will Validate Hadley Engines on the Vector-R System

The mission will demonstrate a liquid-fueled vehicle and launch using the Vector-R system, which includes:

• Responsive mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) capability for rapid deployment from any location

• Remotely controlled, secure command-and-control sub-system designed to survive adverse conditions

• Reusable launch infrastructure

"Until very recently, launch companies had nowhere to turn for reliable, high-performing propulsion on-demand," said Brad Appel, Chief Technology Officer at Ursa Major. "Vector Launch is yet another example of a forward-thinking, results-driven launch provider that's going to support its customers' missions with Ursa Major engines."

The Ursa Major Hadley engine is a 5,000-pound thrust, oxygen-rich staged combustion (ORSC) engine fueled by liquid kerosene. Hadley is highly reliable, with more than 50,000 seconds of test runtime, far more than a typical engine is tested prior to first flight.

Ursa Major focuses solely on propulsion to lower the cost and risks of the most expensive, time-consuming, and risky aspect of space launch. Ursa Major's flexible rocket engines can be used for various missions, from air launch to hypersonic flight and on-orbit missions.

(Source: Ursa Major news release. Images provided)