2022Year9moon28Japan commits to providing new, safer, more stable solid fuelsFirehawkAerospaceThe company has started a new cycle B financing round, was successfully raised 1550 million, but the company plans to increase 1700 More than ten thousand US dollars. Although current rocket engines are very advanced and powerful, the power used comes from traditional fuels. AndFire HawkThe company’s development of new solid fuels and the introduction of huge funds will help the company successfully complete the next round of tests and complete its first suborbital launch test into the atmosphere.
Image source:Fire Hawkaerospace companies
Two years ago,Fire HawkThe company is moving into additive manufacturing of rocket engines with new ideas for hybrid engines, CEO Will said.–Edwards and Chief Scientist Ron–Jones’ breakthrough was to create a structure for this fuel and introduce it into 3D Printed in a specially designed die. These structured solid fuel particles are more stable than other fuels, easier to transport, and burn very predictably. The company designed its engine around this concept and is testing it on a smaller scale, although it is also working on an engine that could actually be used in space. butFire HawkThe company says one of the printer’s strengths is its ability to adapt.
Edwards said:“It is a unique engine with throttling capabilities, inexpensive to manufacture, and parametrically designed so we can design it for a missile interceptor system or second stage booster. “
In addition to improved safety, printing fuel particles in different ways can produce different thrust characteristics. And the whole process can be safely slowed down, stopped and restarted several times. Although this is generally the case for liquid rocket engines, this is not the case for solid rocket engines: they are100%A burst of speed until you run out of fuel, meaning you only get one chance and your force vector options are limited, making you more like a race car driver than a race car driver. to an ordinary car driver.
△Fire HawkThe CEO will–Edwards (left) and chief scientist Ron–Jones holds3Dprinted fuel tube
Image source:Fire Hawkbusiness.
Edwards noted:“Our engine can replace a solid-state rocket engine with something that costs much less, has comparable energy performance, but you can control its combustion, which the industry considers incredible. The demand for robust engines in the defense and research sectors is constant, with improved customization and other features enablingFire HawkBecome an attractive option for tasks with different requirements.
The company recently conducted engine combustion tests at the Stennis Space Center under NASA supervision, and it is ready to fly.—This is the last step before reaching a level of technological maturity that will allow the company to increase its revenues.
△Under testing in StannisFire HawkEngine image source:Fire Hawk
In addition to second stage boosters and missile interception systems, Edwards also suggested space propulsion, such as satellite manipulation, as a potential application. For reasons such as fuel volatility, lower pulse methods such as ion engines are often used.Fire Hawk The fuel is “inherently inert,” making it much less restrictive during a multi-payload launch. Think about it, you wouldn’t want to place your satellite next to a barrel of kerosene, would you?
Fire Hawkis strictly an engine and is not intended to build satellites or any other space or air projects. They simply provide thrust, while upcoming intra-atmospheric demonstrations demonstrate suborbital capabilities.
newBA funding round will allow for more testing, more R&D and the production of more engines to meet demand.—While this is normal when working with a company like Raytheon, confidentiality agreements prevent any specific description of the nature of this need. So far they have raised1550million, but it should reach it soon1700million dollars.
The list of investors this time is long and constitutes a record for financing the company. This financing is provided by Star CastleVC Leading the investment, other participating investors include Raytheon、Draper&Associates、Goff Capital、CathexisVentures、VC of the Plains、VictorumCapital、Stellar VC、CapitalFactory、Echo Investments AndHemisphere Companies。
Although the engines currently being tested are almost ready for customer use, Edwards emphasized that this is just the beginning. New applications can be accessed with just a few touches.
Fire Hawkexpress:“We can create truly unique fuel particle geometries and, by modifying their design, we can improve their performance. It’s just a matter of rewriting some code and uploading it to our3DPrinter problem. The new funding allowed us to purchase and customize our own printers, CNC machines and test stands to deploy at a new location in Addison, Texas. We will be able to complete our next test campaign more quickly.“
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Daguang focuses on providing solutions such as precision CNC machining services (3-axis, 4-axis, 5-axis machining), CNC milling, 3D printing and rapid prototyping services.
