Supersonic jet set to release in 2030 will take passengers from New York to London in less than 60 minutes
Venus Aerospace completed the world's first atmospheric test of a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE), a breakthrough propulsion system that uses spinning explosions instead of steady combustion to generate thrust.
The test took place on Wednesday, May 14, at Spaceport America in New Mexico, where a small rocket equipped with the new engine lifted off at 7:37am local time.
Venus CEO Sassie Duggleby said: 'This is the moment we've been working toward for five years.'
The company plans to use the engine for its upcoming hypersonic jet, Stargazer, which is expected to reach Mach 4 (3,069 mph), four times the speed of sound.
If approved for commercial travel, the $33 million jet could complete the 3,625-mile journey between New York and Paris in under an hour, nearly three times faster than the Concorde, which flew at 1,354 mph. The current flight takes about eight hours.
Venus Aerospace aims to launch the aircraft in the early 2030s, with plans to carry up to 12 passengers per flight.
Compared to traditional rocket engines, RDREs offer improved efficiency and compactness, making them particularly suited for advanced aerospace applications.
'We've proven that this technology works—not just in simulations or the lab, but in the air,' Duggleby said.
'With this milestone, we're one step closer to making high-speed flight accessible, affordable, and sustainable.'
Theorized since the 1980s, a high-thrust RDRE capable of practical application has never been flown in a real-world test.
Andrew Duggleby, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, said: 'Rotating detonation has been a long-sought gain in performance.
'Venus' RDRE solved the last but critical steps to harness the theoretical benefits of pressure gain combustion. We've built an engine that not only runs, but runs reliably and efficiently—and that's what makes it scalable.
'This is the foundation we need that, combined with a ramjet, completes the system from take-off to sustained hypersonic flight.'
Venus's RDRE is also engineered to work with the company's exclusive VDR2 air-breathing detonation ramjet, an advanced propulsion system.
If approved for commercial travel, the $33 million jet could complete the 3,625-mile journey between New York and Paris in under an hour, nearly three times faster than the Concorde, which flew at 1,354 mph
It uses rotating detonation technology to achieve extremely high speeds, potentially Mach 5, which is five times the speed of sound or more.
It pulls in air from the atmosphere instead of carrying oxygen onboard like a rocket does.
Instead of slow burning, it relies on supersonic shock waves from detonations to move air and fuel through the engine rapidly.
'This pairing enables aircraft to take off from a runway and transition to speeds exceeding Mach 6, maintaining hypersonic cruise without the need for rocket boosters,' Venus shared in a statement.
'Venus is planning full-scale propulsion testing and vehicle integration of this system, moving toward their ultimate goal: the Stargazer M4, a Mach 4 reusable passenger aircraft.'
If Stargazer comes to fruition, it will be the first passenger-carrying commercial airplane to go faster than the speed of sound since Concorde.
Retired more than 20 years ago, Concorde flew at a maximum altitude of 60,000 feet.
According to Venus Aerospace, its upcoming plane will not only be faster but will fly higher – up to 110,000 feet.
Just like Concorde passengers almost a quarter of a century ago, Stargazer passengers will be high enough to see the curvature of Earth.
This is where the horizon is a slight curve rather than a straight line, normally seen from 50,000 feet.
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