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Venus Aerospace Completes First U.S. Flight Test of Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine

The successful test at Spaceport America validates a decades-old propulsion concept with potential applications in hypersonic military systems and commercial air travel.

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Overview

  • Venus Aerospace conducted the first U.S.-based flight test of a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) at Spaceport America in New Mexico on May 14, 2025.
  • The engine produced 2,000 pounds of thrust during a 30-second flight, demonstrating reliability outside of lab conditions without breaking the sound barrier.
  • Rotating detonation engines are more fuel-efficient than traditional rocket engines, offering scalability for hypersonic systems and reduced operational costs.
  • The technology has dual-use potential, with applications in military hypersonic missiles and aircraft as well as future commercial airliners capable of transcontinental travel in hours.
  • Venus Aerospace plans to integrate the RDRE into sustained-flight systems, including the Stargazer M4, a Mach 4 reusable passenger aircraft still in the development phase.