Washington-state aerospace company New Frontier Aerospace conducted a series of hot-fire tests of a 3D-printed, LNG-fired rocket engine, the firm announced June 23.
“We are proud of the amazing team that built this program and thrilled with the engine’s performance during this series of hot fire tests,” said Bill Bruner, CEO of New Frontier Aerospace, in a press release.
New Frontier said the rocket engine, called Mjölnir, performs at the high end of liquid-fueled rocket efficiency. The company’s next step is to use the engine to power an unmanned craft in a test flight in 2026, followed by an orbital flight in 2027.
NASA funded the sustained engine tests, according to the release.
In an informational web page on the project, the U.S. space agency said use of LNG “dramatically reduces cost and carbon emissions, with negative greenhouse gas emissions when sourced from the burgeoning renewable natural gas industry.” LNG is also six times denser than hydrogen fuel, meaning it takes up far less space.