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\t\t\t\t\t\t24\/02\/2025<\/span> A new variable-thrust rocket engine demonstrator has aced its second run of tests in Poland and the project will continue to the next phase.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Throttleable Liquid Propulsion Demonstrator (TLPD) is a \u0141ukasiewicz Research Network \u2013 Institute of Aviation rocket engine demonstrator that will be ideal for use as part of upper stages on small rockets and could be used on spacecraft,\u00a0kick-stages\u00a0or exploration missions. The engine can vary its thrust down to 10% and up to 110% of its ideal operating conditions, making it a good candidate for use on landing on other planets. It is restartable and runs on non-toxic easily-storable propellants.<\/p>\n The first test-firing phase last year proved the engine\u2019s operations at different thrust levels in steady states, but kept the engine running at set power levels from startup to the end of each firing. These tests validated the high-tech valves that regulate the flow of the propellants to the engine. \u00a0<\/p>\n The team used a passively-cooled combustion chamber during the first phase of testing since the short test duration didn\u2019t require active cooling. As the tests proceeded the team saw that the engine heated up less than the hottest temperatures predicted, so they decided to conduct a first batch of throttling tests ahead of schedule. These tests saw the engineers change the thrust \u2013 or power of the engine \u2013 while still firing. The results continued to be very promising.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The second phase of the test campaign in November 2024 had the engine firing up and running at varying thrusts for up to a minute at a time \u2013 over seven times longer than in the first tests.<\/p>\n To achieve this, a new combustion chamber was designed and made with additive manufacturing techniques that added water-cooling to allow longer tests while also varying the thrust. It is one thing to keep a rocket engine running at different levels of power, but an extra difficulty to throttle between<\/i> the different levels. During the throttling the engine runs in so-called transient phases that are by definition dynamic and thus hard to predict or control. The complete engine design worked perfectly with very stable combustion for all engine operating points tested over the 14 hot-fire runs.<\/p>\n The success of the Throttleable Liquid Propulsion Demonstrator so far has earned the project to be continued. Over the next two years \u2013 with a budget of \u20ac5 million \u2013 the demonstrator will be upgraded to a flight-like engine adapted specifically for European space transportation needs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The new engine demonstrator will include technical improvements and optimisations and be designed so it could be integrated into a lander for another planet or moon or for inclusion on tugs and operational spacecraft to remove space debris or refuelling orbital depots.<\/p>\n The project is part of ESA\u2019s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) with prime contractor \u2018\u0141ukasiewicz Research Network \u2013 Institute of Aviation\u2019 (Lukasiewicz-ILOT) based in Poland and partners Astronika and Jakusz SpaceTech.\u00a0 A \u0141ukasiewicz spin-off company, Thaliana Space, will join the project in this second phase, working with potential customers to integrate their needs into the engine design.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3<\/span> likes<\/small><\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\nIn brief<\/h2>\n
In-depth<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nEngine dynamics \u2013 new combustion chamber<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFlight-like phase<\/h3>\n
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