We have been trying for over 50 years to develop a type of engine called an aerospike whose promise is adjust its efficiency automatically in different environments. This alternative should work well both in our planet’s atmosphere and in the vacuum of space. While we have tested the aerospike concept several times on the ground, we have never taken its deployment beyond the laboratory.
Polaris appears determined to overcome this barrier once and for all. The German company completed testing of its MIRA-Light demonstrator aircraft exactly one year ago. That vehicle was intended to test the aerodynamics and flight control for what would become the flight of MIRA I, the world’s first test aircraft with an aerospike engine, but things went wrong.
In search of a second chance
The first test was a failure. MIRA I, which had a length of 4.3 meters, crashed before specialists could gather any data on the performance of the promising engine. Polaris, however, decided to move on to the next stage quickly. The firm opted to test its aerospike engine on the models MIRA II and MIRA III whose fuselages are identical and have a length of 5 meters.
Polaris has already received the fiberglass structures of the MIRA II and MIRA III approximately a month ago. announced that assembly and integration of all components would begin. Each aircraft is expected to be equipped with four turbines and a linear aerospike rocket motor. Testing was scheduled to begin as early as September.
MIRA II and MIRA III fuselages at Polaris facilities
No public date has been announced for the start of testing, but as we can see, they should take place this month. In addition to the assembly process, the company also had the pending task of getting the authorization required from the authorities to be able to fly their new vehicles. If the tests are a success, it will be a milestone in the development of the promising aerospike engines.
Rocketdyne XRS-2200, a NASA experimental linear aerospike engine in a test on August 6, 2001
Polaris is not alone in this project. In fact, it has quite a significant backer. The company has a defense contract with the German Armed Forces. If everything goes according to plan, we should see NOVA flying in 2025, an 8-meter-long aircraft that will be a prototype for a commercial product. It should be noted that there are also other companies working on this type of technology.
In Spain, for example, Pangea Aerospace stands out. This is a company that aims to be “the Rolls Royce of the space sector” and that recently managed to manufacture a two-piece aerospike engine prototype in just 15 days thanks to the use of 3D printing techniquesAnd they are serious about their plans. They are growing and have dozens of employees spread between Barcelona and Toulouse.
Images | Polaris | NASA-MSFC
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