Sierra Space Advances Storable Liquid Propulsion System

Sierra Space has successfully completed testing of its hypergolic, or storable, liquid rocket propulsion system for orbit transfer, maneuvering and guidance control. Sierra Space’s patented VORTEX engine cooling technology enables a compact and highly reliable propulsion system that can be stored for long periods of time on the ground and in space.

Sierra Space’s VORTEX engine design promotes efficient, stable combustion while maintaining cool combustion chamber walls, enabling a more compact engine chamber while sustaining high-performance, and allowing rapid adaptation to multiple propellants.

https://youtu.be/qmgPm9_OW5M

The use of hypergolic propellants makes the propulsion system low-risk, extremely reliable and storable. Hypergolic propellants automatically ignite upon mixing, removing the mechanical complexity of the traditional ignition system. The new storable liquid propulsion system can be scaled to suit a wide range of applications including upper stage boosters, missile systems, in-space propulsion, guidance, reaction control, extraterrestrial ascent and descent.

According to a company spokesman, the test campaign confirmed that these design improvements increased performance. It’s a highly scalable design that will allow Sierra Space to perform quick redesigns for multiple thrusts, while still offering stable combustion.

Sierra Space performed the hypergolic testing over a broad range of pressures and thrust levels, from 1,500 to 6,000 pounds of thrust. Other additional engines above 6,000 foot-pounds of thrust and thrusters less than 100 foot-pounds are viable next options.