Venus Aerospace completes first U.S. RDRE flight

Texas-based startup Venus Aerospace achieved the first successful U.S. flight of a rotating detonation rocket engine at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company says the technology uses a ring-shaped chamber for continuous detonations, generating increased thrust with less fuel and potentially doubling payloads. Venus has raised nearly $140 million and secured a development deal with Lockheed Martin to integrate the technology into precision missiles. Open article →