Developing hypersonic engines from the ground up.
Overview
| Headquarters | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder(s) | |
| Ownership | Private |
| Media | ||
|---|---|---|
| Website | ||
| YouTube |
| Craft | Hello-1 | Hello-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Stages | 1 | 1 |
| Height | N/A | N/a |
| Lift Weight (LEO) | 550 kg | 5,500 kg |
| Lift Weight (GEO) | 1,730 kg | |
| Lift Weight (Lunar) | 760 kg | |
| Propulsion | Turbo-Ramjet cycle engine | Turbo-Ramjet cycle engine |
Description
Space Engine Systems is an Edmonton-based company with offices in the UK and USA. Their designers and engineers are building space planes capable of taking off from a regular runway and reaching space with a single stage. The drone test plane, code named "SEXBOMB", has flown from Lynn Lake, Manitoba since late 2021 and in November 2022 transferred to a new home at the Cornwall spaceport in the UK.
Space Engine Systems' new test demonstrator plane (Hello-1X) has a cruising altitude of 28-32 kms and a cruising speed of mach 5 and is testbed for flight systems, avionics, defence applications, and hypersonic research. Hello-1 and Hello-2 use turbo-ramjet engines and are expected to be ready for customers to launch cargo by 2023 and passengers by 2025. Estimating $300 USD per kg to LEO would make the Hello-1 the cheapest way to get mass to space, so all eyes will be on the company's price sheets after the first launch.
Space Engine Systems' Plans For Hypersonic And Space Flight
Recent News & Updates
January 18, 2023
The linked Globe News Wire piece reveals that most of the company's other work will be moved to the US. This includes the Hello-1x, Hello-1 and Hello-2, which will all be built and flown from American soil. Following the November 2022 announcement their hypersonic demonstrator craft Sexbomb would be moving to the UK, this is a disappointing development
SEXBOMB (modified Turbo-Ram jet) Hypersonic aircraft being moved to Cornwall UK Space Port#hypersonic #space #aerospace #spaceportcornwall https://t.co/wGmU3mBrYy
— Space Engine Systems (@SpaceEngSystem) January 18, 2023
November 7, 2022
The company announces Hello-1 and Hello-2, different sized space planes to carry cargo to the Karman line. On the same day, they announced that their demonstrator drone would be moved to the Cornwall Spaceport.
Check out our plans to launch our hypersonic spaceplanes Hello-1X, Hello-1 and Hello-2 subject to regulatory approvals. Meet us at the Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa on Nov 8 and at the UK Space Agency booth at Space Tech Expo Europe on Nov 15–17 in Bremen, Germany.#space pic.twitter.com/JqqrSArIpd
— Space Engine Systems (@SpaceEngSystem) November 7, 2022
Space Engine Systems' "Sexbomb" hypersonic drone originally planned for flight testing in Canada is slated for an upgrade with a GNX turbo-ramjet engine. Self-propelled launch enables a broader mission set that will be carried out at Cornwall Spaceport in the UK.#hypersonic pic.twitter.com/fgEh8nOPlc
— Space Engine Systems (@SpaceEngSystem) November 7, 2022
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