Engineering news

Reaction Engines targets lower-carbon space access with new £3.9m government funding

Professional Engineering

How a Sabre-powered space plane and thruster could look (Credit: Reaction Engines)
How a Sabre-powered space plane and thruster could look (Credit: Reaction Engines)

Lower-carbon access to space could be one step closer at Reaction Engines, after the UK space firm received £3.9m new government funding.

The grant from the UK Space Agency will support the development of the company’s Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (Sabre). Aimed at providing the fuel efficiency of a jet engine with the power and speed of a rocket, Sabre will operate in both air-breathing and rocket modes for Mach 5 atmospheric flight and Mach 25 space flight.

The engine will enable lower-carbon space access while also providing technology that could be applied in other sectors, the government said. Potential spin-out areas include sustainable aviation fuels, and longer-life electric vehicle batteries thanks to innovative thermal management technology.

The latest funding will be used for demonstrations of hydrogen combustion, thermal management, and engine control technologies, all critical to the air-breathing core of future Sabre systems.

Mark Thomas, chief executive at Reaction Engines, said: “The innovative and disruptive nature of Sabre technology unlocks new ways of accessing space, furthering growth and sustainment of the future space economy. This refreshed UK commitment towards that long-term vision is incredibly important for both Reaction Engines and the UK space industry. The space technology we are developing is highly versatile and transformational, enabling applications here on Earth with a strong environmental focus.”

The new grant follows £50m of UK Space Agency funding for Reaction Engines since 2015.

Science minister Amanda Solloway said: “Backed by government, UK firms are leading the way in developing space technology that can reduce costs, improve sustainability and make space more accessible as we pursue our ambitious plans to grow the sector.

“It was fantastic to see this technology first-hand at Reaction Engines, a business that is spearheading efforts to ensure the benefits of low-carbon innovation are applied throughout the industry, while helping the UK to lead the world in space exploration.”


Get to grips with the future factory: sign up now for our Advanced Manufacturing briefings (19-23 July), part of the Engineering Futures series.

Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Share:

Read more related articles

Professional Engineering magazine

Professional Engineering app

  • Industry features and content
  • Engineering and Institution news
  • News and features exclusive to app users

Download our Professional Engineering app

Professional Engineering newsletter

A weekly round-up of the most popular and topical stories featured on our website, so you won't miss anything

Subscribe to Professional Engineering newsletter

Opt into your industry sector newsletter

Related articles