Rocket Propulsion Systems

We are pleased to share that our "Centurion" rocket engine thrust chamber development is progressing well. The team is taking it through various operating conditions validating its performance. In thrust we trust.

Thanks Lisa Dreher, MBA, CC for hosting Rocket Propulsion Systems LLC on the Tech and Space Leaders Show. It was a great opportunity to speak about what we're doing and the future possibilities that space holds. Looking forward to participating on the show again.

Thank you to TLG's Tommy Gantz for moderating a great panel on the impact of local supply chains on the development of space technologies. It was a pleasure speaking and looking forward to future talks.

Kent, WA – Rocket Propulsion Systems (RPS) LLC announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase I contract in the amount of $54,136 focused on Low-Cost, Single Staged Suborbital Rocket to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on January 10, 2025, RPS will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. About AFRL ? The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com. About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit afwerx.com.

RPS is delighted to have been awarded a $200K Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships (TCEP) grant from NSF for development of a reusable suborbital launch vehicle powered by the Centurion rocket engine. The rocket pursues dual-use goals as a commercial platform for low-gravity research and experimentation, and/or as a surveillance and reconnaissance mobile platform in tactically relevant contested and dynamic environments to achieve enhanced capabilities for the Warfighter.

RPS completed hot-fire testing of its preburner today. The preburner operates on liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid natural gas (LNG) propellants and is a critical power generation component of the Centurion staged combustion liquid rocket engine. The test campaign spanned (54) tests and validated preburner performance at full power, ability to deep-throttle to 25% power level, stability and reusability. We are moving on to thrust chamber hot-fire testing next.

We are excited to announce that Rocket Propulsion Systems has graduated from the Endless Frontier Labs 2023-2024 cohort! It has been an incredible journey working alongside EFL mentors, NYU Stern MBA students, and the other great companies selected for the Deep Tech track. Endless Frontier Labs is a New York-based mentorship program supporting promising startups across the globe by helping to scale their business, grow their teams, and advance human welfare through science and technology-based entrepreneurship. If you are a startup company in the tech or life sciences space, apply to the 2023-2024 EFL Cohort! The program is completely free for participating startups. https://lnkd.in/gxTU4Jds

Kent, WA – Rocket Propulsion Systems LLC (RPS) announces it has been selected by?SpaceWERX?for a SBIR Phase I contract in the amount of $50,656 focused on?Low-Cost Orbital Vehicle?development to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on 15 May 2024, RPS will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. About SpaceWERX As the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, SpaceWERX inspires and empowers collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SpaceWERX employs 40 military, civilian and contractor personnel executing an annual $457 million budget. Additionally, SpaceWERX partners with Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office (COMSO) as a collaborative program. Since it was aligned under AFRL in Aug. 2021, SpaceWERX has executed 906 contracts worth more than $690 million to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit?spacewerx.us. About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit?afresearchlab.com.