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Skylon: Progress with Sabre Engines

Discussion in 'General Astronomy Chat' started by Mak the Night, Sep 27, 2017.

Skylon: Progress with Sabre Engines

Started by Mak the Night on Sep 27, 2017 at 5:14 AM

3 Replies 1778 Views 1 Likes

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  1. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

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    Mak the Night, Sep 27, 2017
    #1


    'Reaction Engines has opened a new testing facility in Westcott, Buckinghamshire The firm is developing a turbine with jet and rocket technologies that is says could be tested by 2020 The engine would mean flights from London to New York could take less than two hours It could be used to send satellites into space at fraction of current cost and to develop Skylon spaceplane ' ~ op cit

    Slightly old news but I just found this lol.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency

    MaxthonSnap20170927131339.jpg

    https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/the-sabre-engine-and-new-launch-technologies
     
    Orion25 likes this.
  2. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

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    Mak the Night, Sep 28, 2017
    #2
    Reaction Engines Awarded DARPA Contract

    https://www.reactionengines.co.uk/r...h-temperature-testing-of-the-sabre-precooler/

    MaxthonSnap20170928123516.jpg


    Mark Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Reaction Engines, commented, “The announcement of DARPA’s contract is fantastic news and provides us with the opportunity to demonstrate our innovative heat exchanger capability in the world’s largest aerospace market. This will accelerate our development efforts and strengthen key relationships.”

    Reaction Engines has world-leading expertise in the design and manufacture of compact, lightweight heat exchangers capable of cooling airstreams from over 1800°F to -240°F (1,000°C to -150°C) in less than 1/20th of a second. Developed for the high-speed SABRE engines, the precooler heat exchangers prevent engine components from overheating at high flight speeds and thereby could enable new classes of vehicles and operational possibilities. ~ op cit

    MaxthonSnap20170928124123.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2017
  3. Orion25

    Orion25 Well-Known Member

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    Orion25, Sep 28, 2017
    #3
    Good stuff! I hadn't heard about this. Thanks for posting.
     
  4. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

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    Mak the Night, Sep 28, 2017
    #4
    You're welcome Reggie. I think Reaction Engines was originally started by Alan Bond who tried to develop the British SSTO spaceplane HOTOL (below), which was eventually cancelled.

    MaxthonSnap20170928230503.jpg

    The revolutionary SABRE engines have been developed for a few years now and are soon to go through extensive trials. Skylon will hopefully succeed where HOTOL failed. I believe they've learnt a lot about what went wrong with HOTOL. If it's a success it will completely revolutionise space travel with spaceplanes being able to perform the functions of a space shuttle but be able to take off and land from conventional runways. These planes would also be much cheaper to run. Suitable spaceport sites are being scouted in the UK already.
     
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