Space Startup Spotlight: LAUNCHER
Entrepreneurs come and go. Some achieve success, some struggle to make an impact. Often, the manner in which we admire these individuals is measured by just how much risk they assume, or the ambition they hold in their hearts. This is why space entrepreneurs, that is, those who task themselves with solving some of the most pressing new problems of the global spacefaring pursuit — are quite literally at the cutting edge of startup development.
Startups of all kinds are created each and every day, but as some sputter or struggle to come to life, some “launch” to prominence. That is absolutely the case with the aptly-named Launcher, the aerospace startup keeping an ethos of efficiency to heart.
Perhaps Launcher can be best introduced, though by no means reduced, to their E-1 kerosene engine’s blue exhaust plume. This is a visual result of kind of fuel efficiency that operating at 98%, which is practically unheard of in this kind of subscale engine testing. This achievement shows just how far Launcher is willing to go in order to design the rocket engine of the future, as small satellites and orbital payloads are enabling incredible engineers the potential to ‘cut the fat’ and keep efficiency and safety as the new standard above all.
Launching To Prominence
An aviation and aerospace startup out of Brooklyn NY, Launcher has exploded onto the scene with verve. The founder, Max Haot, has previously found success owning and operating Livestream, which has since been successfully acquired by IAC/Vimeo in 2017, the same year of Launcher’s inception. His entrepreneurial efforts have caused him to finally set his sights on the eponymous final frontier, a passion of his 20 years in the making.
Launcher has recently been awarded $1.5m from the U.S Air Force, allowing their E-2 testing plans to be brought forward. Additionally, they are presenting their flagship engine at Formnext, one of the leading industrial design exhibitions worldwide. In other words, they are quite happy, and quite justifiably making waves.
Launcher E-2
But why? How is Launcher distinguishing itself in the market? It’s rare that you can say this, but those well-versed in rocket science and those without the faintest clue of this topic could both admire the impressive design approach of this growing startup.
Launcher Rocket-1, their mainline rocket system, is a 65-feet, comparatively diminutive but no less impressive rocket chassis designed to deliver satellite payloads of three-quarters of a tonne, or 1,704 pounds. However, while this is worthy in itself, observing Rocket-1 without inspecting the internals of its propulsion design would be quite unforgivable. In fact, like any good rocket chassis, it’s the engines that hold most of the credit here.
Launcher E-2 is currently in active development, the natural conclusion to the thousands of hours of design consideration and a hundred hours of testing implemented in E-1. In collaboration with their partners AMCM, Launcher has developed the most sizeable single-part 3D printing liquid rocket engine combustion chamber. This allows them to save on costs considerably, meaning they can pass this unique discount to their commercial and government clients. The E-2 engine is scheduled for a first full test in 2020.
What makes the E-2 so special, and why is it unveiling Launcher as the startup to watch in contemporary space industry trends? Well, using Kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen (LOX) propellants, Launcher is able to once again achieve 98% combustion efficiency. The copper alloy design offers excellent cooling reliability (via a dual-propellant cooling system). Additionally, said design offers an easy and immediate output of 22,000 LBF of upward thrust. In layman’s terms, it’s smaller, more efficient, easier to produce, and in no way lacks quality due to any of those advancing measures.
Who is Launcher?
But who can be credited with this innovation? Well, six individuals lead the main drive of design in their team. The founder, Max Haot, mentioned previously, has not only found success leading and managing a team of highly capable designers and engineers but has brought together a dream team of professionals that match his passion for space. Igor Nikischenko, the chief designer, joined the team in late 2018. Boasting over thirty years of liquid rocket engine development experience, and a past working as part of the vital Ukranian state-owned Yuzhnoye (responsible for developing the RD-120 and RD-8 engines), you could say the engines they develop are in safe hands. Alongside him works Viktoria Skachko, another Yuzhnoye alumni, who holds over twenty years of experience working in the design office. A fluid dynamics expert, she holds much of the innovative ideas surrounding heat transfer and strength calculations.
Not only this, but these two leaders are backed by Luis Rodriguez, a 3d printing prodigy with Autodesk, Simon’s Foundation and New Lab fellowships to his name, as well as a master’s degree in engineering. By his side, Andrew Ivankovic boasts a bachelor’s of science in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University, fresh from interning at SpaceX and Tesla. If that wasn’t enough, he’s also chasing his masters in Aerospace engineering at GIT. Finally, Paul Schumacher, a software engineer, was a previous colleague of Max Haot, working as Chief Architect for Livestream. He holds a master’s degree in computer science from Munich Technical University.
The Blue Plume
This robust team and their achievements can in no way be simplified but can be symbolized through just one of their crowning achievements — the blue exhaust plume unprecedented among kerosene engines. They know small is not necessarily better unless it is more efficient. They understand that the future of the aerospace industry requires innovators to not only consider innovation that impresses, such as launching a Tesla into space, but efficiency, so that practical space payloads become easier to maintain, launch into orbit, and do so in a cost-effective manner. As the years pass on, Launcher is proving every day that standards can always be heightened to their most logical point.
To that end, they are a perfect case study for the ethos of efficiency in engineering. You can view their website, their Twitter page, YouTube and Instagram for further updates.
“Space Startup Spotlight” is a new, regularly-scheduled, profiling of an up-and-coming space startup from around the world. Subscribe for updates to see more!
