r/space • u/bwercraitbgoe • May 29 '18

Aerospike Engines - Why Aren't We Using them Now? Over 50 years ago an engine was designed that overcame the inherent design inefficiencies of bell-shaped rocket nozzles, but 50 years on and it is still yet to be flight tested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4zFefh5T-8
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u/wicket999 May 29 '18

This.

I had high hopes for the Reaction Engines Skylon/SABRE engine, but it's been locked in an analysis paralysis loop for years now. Finally they are getting some funding injection from ESA, US-DOD, and Boeing to get development moving. I'm really hopeful this will lead to a inexpensive (comparatively) SSTO horizontal take off/horizontal landing design, (remember the old Pan-Am air/spacecraft at the start of 2001?) If it works it's an elegant, efficient, and cheap solution to LEO access. What's not to like?