LAUNCHER is a Brooklyn-based company developing space flight vehicles and 3D printed rocket engines capable of delivering small satellite payloads to low earth orbit. Founded by Livestream entrepreneur Max Haot , in 2017 with the goal of lowering costs for launching small satellites into orbit. LAUNCHER is currently developing its first rocket model, the Rocket-1 powered by its E-2 engine.
LAUNCHER is slated to begin full scale test flights of the Rocket-1 in 2024 . Pending successful testing the Rocket-1 will enter commercial service in 2026 .
The Rocket-1 stands 20 meters tall with a diameter of 1.7m. It has a payload capacity of 773kg to 200km orbit or 400kg to 500km orbit . The Rocket-1 features a two-stage design featuring four E-2 engines in the first stage and one vacuum sealed E-2 engine in the second stage. The flight of the Rocket-1 will take 6 minutes at a speed of 26,500 km/h to reach its payload altitude before delivering the satellite to orbit . The Rocket-1 is being developed with the goal of achieving the highest ratio of payload to rocket mass in the industry.
The E-2 engine is being developed by Chief Designer Igor Nikishchenko . The E-2 utilizes a single part design. It is 3D printed copper alloy by AMCM. The 3D printed design was developed to increase performance and reduce manufacturing costs . The E-2 uses liquid oxygen/kerosene (RP-1) as propellant to generate 10 tonne-force of thrust . The development of the E-2 started with Launcher’s E-1 small scale, proof-of-concept engine. After over 100 successful test firings, the company moved to full scale tests of the E-2. The first E-2 engines were delivered for testing in February 2019.
