Reaction Engines

Skylon is a single-stage-to-orbit spaceplane.

Created: 2018-11-22

Updated: 2024-01-13

Company - Reaction Engines

Founded
Country: 1989; UK

Funding: $185M+

Website: https://www.reactionengines.co.uk/

Social

Product/Service - Skylon

Classification: Cargo Transportation & Landers

Category: Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Fields: Reusable

Status: Concept

First launch: 2025

The Skylon spaceplane is a proposal by Reaction Engines Limited — a British company based in Oxfordshire — to build an orbital launch vehicle which could take off from a conventional runway, accelerate to Mach 5.5 using a turbojet engine, then close its air intake, switch operation to that of a rocket engine, and accelerate to typical orbital speed of Mach 23.

SABRE – Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine – is a new class of engine for propelling both high speed aircraft and spacecraft. SABRE is unique in delivering the fuel efficiency of a jet engine with the power and high speed ability of a rocket.

A truly versatile propulsion system – SABRE is an air-breathing rocket engine that can propel an aircraft from zero to five times the speed of sound in the atmosphere and 25 times the speed of sound for space access. Highly scalable, this pioneering breakthrough boasts a huge range of operation with the potential to redefine what’s possible in the world of powered flight.

In January 2023, announced a $47.7M founding round to accelerate the development and commercialisation of Reaction Engines’ pioneering thermal management technologies which have multiple uses across a range of applications including advanced propulsion systems and sustainable technology solutions.

Status Comment / Notes

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