Boeing & Rolls-Royce made a $37.6 million investment in Reaction Engines aerospace company

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Resultado de imagem para reaction engine ltdThe companies Boeing and Rolls-Royce have invested £26.5 million (approx. $37.6 million) in Reaction Engines Limited, a UK-based aerospace company working on the 3D printing enabled SABRE engine and future hypersonic travel.

With the capability of Mach 5.4 and Mach 25 speeds, the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) travels at 5.4 and 25 times the speed of sound, making a military response or long-haul flights a breeze.

 

“We continue to connect capabilities around the globe with our investment in Reaction Engines, which is our first in a UK-based company,”

-Steve Nordlund, Vice President of Boeing investment arm HorizonX

 

“AS REACTION ENGINES UNLOCKS ADVANCED PROPULSION THAT COULD CHANGE THE FUTURE OF AIR AND SPACE TRAVEL, WE EXPECT TO LEVERAGE THEIR REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT BOEING’S PURSUIT OF HYPERSONIC FLIGHT.”

-Steve Nordlund, Vice President of Boeing investment arm HorizonX

 

Project Budget: $142 million

Reaction Engines was formed in 1989 “to design and develop the technologies needed for a new class of innovative hypersonic propulsion system,” i.e. the SABRE.

SABRE engine development is supported by £60 million (approx. $85.1 million) in funding from the UK Government (the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency/ESA). The company has also previously received £20.6 million (approx. $29.2 million) from the world’s second biggest defense company and UK based enterprise BAE Systems. With the latest fund from Boeing and Rolls-Royce, Reaction Engines has raised over £100 million ($142 million) in the past three years.

 

 In addition to providing our largest round of private investment, these new partners bring invaluable expertise in both hypersonics and engine technologies with significant access to target markets,”

and follows,

“…This is only a vote of confidence in our technology but also underlines belief in our ability to develop a thriving commercial business which will provide strong financial returns for our shareholders.”

 -Mark Thomas, Chief executive at the Reaction Engines

Additive Manufacturing in the SABRE

The hybrid engine of SABRE is capable of flying at both low and high altitudes, using hydrogen/oxygen mixing (low altitude), or stored liquid oxygen (LOX) when launched into space. Its versatility means that aircraft powered by the engine can fly from London to Australia (Around 15,160 km) in the space of four and half hours, or it can be integrated into a reusable spaceplane. A poignant breakthrough in the development of this hybrid engine is Reaction Engines’ proprietary heat exchanger technology which is

“The most powerful means of cooling air in the world.” This technology can remove 400 MW of heat from the air “the equivalent of a small power station.”

Reaction Engines’ Sabre engine. Image via Reaction Engines.

The propellant injector system, which prevents ice formation during this heat exchange, is made using Additive Manufacturing.

Boeing’s pursuit of hypersonic flight

The Reaction Engines‘ investor Boeing is also conducting hypersonic flight development in a contract with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Californian rocket developer Aerojet Rocketdyne.

According to DARPA, the hypersonic spaceplane concept will integrate “numerous state-of-the-art technologies” in its production. Boeing and Aerojet’s involvement with additive manufacturing is expected to play an important part in the process.

Aerojet Rocketdyne’s AR1 engine, made with 3D printed components is on track for certification in 2019. And Boeing recently signed an agreement with Swiss listed technology group Oerlikon to develop a standard for 3D printed titanium aircraft components.

 

Next-generation airline jet engine in Russia, the Aviadvigatel PD-35, is also using additive manufacturing. And space exploration technology startup Relativity Space has received $35 million in funding to boost development of the Stargate, dubbed “the largest metal additive 3D printer in the world.

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Article and featured image:

3D Printing Industry, Beau Jackson Apr 18th, 2018 Reaction engines raises $26.5 million for 3D Printed Rocket/Jet Sabre Propulsion, https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/reaction-engines-raises-26-5-million-3d-printed-rocketjet-sabre-propulsion-132300/ visited on May 6th, 2018;

Reaction Engine Ltd logo, http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Reaction_Engines_Limited visited on May 6th, 2018;

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