T
trailrider
Guest
According to AvLeak, a South Korean company has successfully static tested a 22,000 lbf liquid oxygen/liquid methane, turbo-pump driven, regeneratively-cooled nozzle and combustion chamber engine for about 10 seconds. <br /><br />After the ROK government shelved the project in favor of a LOX/kerosene engine, the principal researcher, Kyoung-ho Kim, formed his own company, C&Space. The engine, called "Chase-10" is also being marketed in the U.S. by AirBoss Aerospace. The current configuration does NOT have airborne restart capability, but that IS being added, along with gimballing capability.<br /><br />AvWeek quotes Kim as saying that a flight-certified, reusable Chase-10 can be delivered in 9-12 months after an order is placed, depending on the exact configuration required! Apparently they are aiming towards small (1000 lb) satellites, manned commercial tourist flights, and possibly for any customer that wants a quick-reaction launch capability with reusability...in, say, six-hour turn-arounds!<br /><br />So far they haven't said anything about NASA being interested. Is this a case of NIH (Not Invented Here)?<br /><br />Now, let's see...do we need to start studying Korean as well as Chinese in order to get visas to land on the Moon?<br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!