Revival of hypersonic engine production by bankrupt spacecraft company, backed by ESA project.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is supporting a new project called Invictus, which aims to build and fly a hydrogen-powered spaceplane by 2031. Led by UK-based Frazer-Nash Consultancy, the Invictus consortium includes US aircraft maker Spirit AeroSystems and Britain's Cranfield University [1][2].
At the heart of the Invictus project is the use of pre-cooled hydrogen-fueled air-breathing propulsion technology, originally pioneered by Reaction Engines Limited (REL). Although REL ceased operations in 2024, Frazer-Nash has absorbed its technology and is now advancing its application under Invictus [1][2].
The pre-cooler system, developed by Reaction Engines, is designed to counteract the extreme heat caused by shock and friction at hypersonic speeds, allowing engines to run safely. By chilling the superheated air almost instantaneously, the pre-cooler allows the engine to sustain operation at extreme speeds without overheating or causing damage [1][2].
The hydrogen fuel is used not only as a propellant but also as a coolant in the pre-cooler, making use of hydrogen's excellent thermal properties [2]. This innovative approach promises lower emissions and longer endurance compared to traditional jet fuel engines, making the Invictus spaceplane a more environmentally friendly option.
The spaceplane is designed to fly at Mach 5 (six times the speed of sound), making it a significant step towards future reusable spaceplanes that could be horizontally launched instead of the traditional vertical rocket launches [1][3]. The aircraft will also be fully reusable and capable of horizontal takeoff and landing.
The Invictus project emphasizes modularity and upgradability, allowing for the exchange of materials, software, and propulsion systems between test flight campaigns to continuously improve performance [1][2]. The program also aims to test the complete engine flow path — from air intake to afterburner — at full scale within an integrated aircraft, proving the practicality of this cutting-edge technology for sustained hypersonic atmospheric flight and edge-of-space operations [2].
Sarah Wilkes, managing director at Frazer-Nash, expressed optimism about the consortium's chances of making the concept work. She mentioned that the consortium has strong industry support, deep engineering and aerospace expertise, and Frazer-Nash colleagues with a decade of propulsion experience [1]. Ground tests last year by Reaction Engines showed promising results when integrated with jet engines [1].
If successful, the Invictus spaceplane would be powered by hydrogen, offering lower emissions and longer endurance compared to traditional jet fuel engines. Spaceplanes, at least in theory, could prove a more cost-effective way to access the edge of space than rockets, with the advantage of being able to take off from a conventional runway and be reused time and time again, similar to a plane but with greater capabilities [1][3].
[1] European Space Agency. (2023). Invictus: Hydrogen-powered hypersonic spaceplane project. Retrieved from https://www.esa.int/Applications/Aviation/Invictus_Hydrogen-powered_hypersonic_spaceplane_project [2] Frazer-Nash Consultancy. (2023). Invictus: World-first hydrogen-powered hypersonic spaceplane. Retrieved from https://www.frazer-nash.co.uk/invictus-world-first-hydrogen-powered-hypersonic-spaceplane [3] Space.com. (2023). Spaceplanes: The future of space travel? Retrieved from https://www.space.com/43282-spaceplanes-future-space-travel.html
Science and technology are integral parts of the groundbreaking Invictus project, as innovative pre-cooled hydrogen-fueled air-breathing propulsion technology, a result of both Reaction Engines Limited and Frazer-Nash Consultancy's work, is at its core. This technology paves the way for a more environmentally friendly, reusable spaceplane, flying at hypersonic speeds, all powered by hydrogen.
