US startup New Frontier Aerospace has found success in its series of tests of its hypersonic engine called "Mjölnir," based on the best-known hammer of the Norse mythology thunder god, Thor. This new engine may seem as mythical as its Nordic legend counterpart, but New Frontier Aerospace already made this into a reality, soon to possibly deliver the fastest aircraft there is.
Apart from air travel, the new hypersonic engine was also intended for suborbital flights, with the company proposing it to NASA for a future spacecraft.
New Frontier Aerospace's Mjölnir Finds Success in Test Fires
(Photo : New Frontier Aerospace)
New Frontier Aerospace is looking to make a name for itself, particularly with its recent milestone, seeing success with its series of tests done for its dubbed "world's first" hypersonic engine called Mjölnir. According to Interesting Engineering, New Frontier Aerospace's chairman, Alex Tai, said that this is the most powerful engine in the world, and the company saw triumphs in its recent tests.
The Mjölnir was able to fire for only a second, but it was able to ignite the engines and activate its turbopumps. That being said, New Frontier Aerospace is looking to test it longer in future feats.
Significant advantages are also touted by the company with its hypersonic engine, particularly with its massive power and lightweight body that can maximize its power output.
Hypersonic Engine Mjölnir for Air and Space Travel
The Mjölnir full-flow staged combustion engine (FFSC) which New Frontier Aerospace 3D printed, with the lightweight engine prototype capable of outputting 3,000 lbs. of thrust. Future versions of the hypersonic engine can deliver 30,000 to as much as 40,000 lbs. of thrust, all while running on liquid oxygen and natural gas (LOX/LNG), with the latter known for giving off "negative" greenhouse gas.
Mjölnir was previously proposed for its application on NASA's Orbital Transfer Stage (OTS).
Rocket Engine Development of the Future
The field of aerospace and science has since looked to develop and improve rocket engines for the future, looking to bring more powerful machines that can take humanity further than before. Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has introduced the rotating detonation engine (RDE) which the agency demonstrated and reached significant milestones, an engine meant for deep space exploration.
On the other hand, there was also the significant development of China of the same type of engine, the RDE, with theirwork centering on a hypersonic machine that is so powerful, it can trigger shockwaves. According to Chinese researchers, this RDE is capable of reaching as much as Mach 16, with two distinct operational conditions centering on a sub-Mach 7 mode and the above Mach 7 mode.
The future of the aerospace industry will see more developments from different agencies and companies looking to deliver the most powerful there is, one that could help bring humanity farther than ever. New Frontier Aerospace's work as a startup already delivers significant developments with its hypersonic engine, with the Mjölnir finding success in its tests, soon to be used for NASA spacecraft and more.
