Europe working to launch 'Invictus' hypersonic space plane by 2031 (video)
Europe doesn't want to be left out of the space plane party.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is funding the development of a hypersonic space plane pathfinder, which will start flying by 2031 if all goes according to plan.
The work is being done via a research program called Invictus, which is led by the consulting firm Frazer-Nash. Invictus will leverage technology developed by the English company Reaction Engines Ltd., which aimed to build a huge space plane called Skylon but went bankrupt last year.
The key piece of Invictus tech is a "pre-cooler," which Reaction Engines built and tested for its Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE). SABRE combined aspects of jet and rocket propulsion; it was designed to pull oxygen out of the air during flight at lower levels of Earth's atmosphere, reducing the need to carry propellant and therefore increasing efficiency.
"Aircraft that fly at hypersonic speeds — more than 5 times the speed of sound — face extremely high temperatures due to shock heating and the friction from the air. Typical aircraft engines cannot operate in these conditions, as the air is too hot to handle," Frazer-Nash representatives said in a statement.
This pre-cooler solves this problem, cooling "the air before it reaches the engine, allowing conventional aircraft engines to travel at hypersonic speeds," Frazer-Nash added.
Invictus isn't a huge project; its funding is 7 million pounds (about $9.4 million US at current exchange rates), according to the company. But it could have a big impact on European spaceflight, according to ESA.
"Hypersonic flight is not just the next frontier of aerospace — it is the gateway to a new paradigm of mobility, defense, and space access," Tommaso Ghidini, head of the Mechanical Department at the agency, said in the same statement.
"With Invictus, Europe is seizing the opportunity to lead in technologies that will redefine how we move across the planet and reach beyond it," he added. "By mastering reusable, air-breathing propulsion, we are laying the foundation for aircraft that take off like planes and reach orbit like rockets — revolutionizing both terrestrial and orbital transportation."
Related Stories:
— US and UK militaries pick Rocket Lab's HASTE launcher to help test hypersonic tech
— Facts about Reaction Engines' Skylon space plane
— Space Force aims to launch 1st 'Foo Fighter' satellites in 2027 to track hypersonic threats
The plan calls for the Invictus team — a consortium led by Frazer-Nash that includes Spirit AeroSystems and Cranfield University, among other partners — to deliver "the concept and elements of preliminary design of the full flight system" 12 months from now.
The "full flight system" will be a reusable vehicle that takes off from, and lands on, a runway like an airplane. It will be up and running by early 2031, if all goes to plan, and could have a variety of uses and applications.
"We look forward to seeing how the work develops and the opportunity it presents for boosting economic growth and national security," Tony Forsythe, head of space technology at the U.K. Space Agency, said in the same statement.
Invictus isn't the only European space plane in development. Last month, for example, the French government and the French company Dassault Aviation announced plans for a demonstrator called VORTEX.
Space planes are experiencing something of a resurgence after the retirement of the most famous such vehicle — NASA's space shuttle — in 2011. The U.S. military operates a robotic orbital space plane called the X-37B, for example, and China has a similar vehicle, called Shenlong. Virgin Galactic flies a suborbital space plane for tourism and research purposes.
A number of other companies are developing space planes as well, including Sierra Nevada Corp., Dawn Aerospace and Radian Aerospace.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
43 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
JA Mining Launches Enhanced Cloud Miners Platform for Daily Earnings on XRP and BTC
London, United Kingdom, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JA Mining, a UK-registered cloud mining platform, has officially launched a new feature enabling users to earn daily returns through cloud miners based on major cryptocurrencies like XRP and Bitcoin. The upgrade reflects the company's commitment to making digital asset participation simple, efficient, and globally accessible. With momentum shifting toward structured digital asset investments, platforms offering daily returns and price-based upside are gaining attention. Among them, JA Mining, a global cloud mining service provider, is emerging as a preferred choice for investors seeking stable, low-risk crypto income. JA Mining supports investments in major cryptocurrencies such as XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin, while all contracts are denominated in USD for transparency and predictability. Users earn fixed daily returns based on the selected contract terms, and at the end of the term, they may benefit additionally if the value of their deposited assets appreciates. Mining Contract Examples (Updated July 2025) LTC Classic Miner – $200 | 2 Days | $7/day → Total: $14 DOGE Innovative Miner – $2,420 | 3 Days | $86.88/day → Total: $260.63 DOGE Quality Choice – $12,500 | 3 Days | $535/day → Total: $1,605 BTC Intelligent Innovation – $55,600 | 2 Days | $4,770/day → Total: $9,540.96 BTC Efficient & Excellent – $258,000 | 5 Days | $24,664.80/day → Total: $123,324 For more plans, please visit the official website: These earnings are automatically distributed on a daily basis via smart contract settlements. The system does not require hardware or technical skills from the user, making cloud mining with daily earnings accessible to a broader investor base. JA Mining has positioned itself at the intersection of compliance, automation, and accessibility. The platform operates internationally, integrating energy-efficient mining infrastructure and user-friendly dashboards that enable real-time earnings tracking. Investments can be made through web or mobile interfaces using XRP or other supported cryptocurrencies. 'JA Mining's model of combining fixed returns with potential asset appreciation aligns with the market's growing preference for balanced and structured crypto exposure,' the company stated in an official release. 'As institutional and retail interest in XRP and other digital assets grows, demand for simplified and transparent yield models will continue to rise.' JA Mining's approach reflects a broader industry shift: away from high-volatility speculation, and toward regulated, algorithmic income strategies that prioritize user stability. Start now, no need to wait: click to download the APP and register to get $100 to start 0 cost mining Media Contact: JA Mining [email protected] Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Who Builds Boeing's Jet Engines, And Are They The Same As Airbus Uses?
American aerospace giant Boeing has taken a bit of tarnish of late. A pair of deadly crashes and other lesser malfunctions have sullied the reputations of the latest iterations of the brand's 737 Max aircraft, but those concerns don't extend to the jets' powerful engines. Boeing is responsible for building the 737's iconic flat-bottomed nacelles, or casings, which house the engines. However, the turbofan powerplants themselves are farmed out to various global manufacturers. The world's largest producer of jet engines, including for Boeing, is a joint venture called CFM. The two entities behind CFM are General Electric and the French manufacturer Safran. As part of its 39% global market share, CFM's fuel-efficient Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion (LEAP) engines power every one of Boeing's 737 Max aircraft. Coincidentally, engines from this brand can also be found on some Airbus A320 jets, a competitor to the 737 that's assembled largely in Europe. Of course, Boeing doesn't just build the 737. Other commercial Boeing jets include the venerable widebody 777 and the high-tech 787 Dreamliner, both of which are staples of long-haul or high-capacity routes, such as between the United States and Europe. And the engines there are made by others. Read more: Nobody Does Land Yachts Like Cadillac, And These Are Five Of The Best Ones Rolls-Royce Doesn't Only Build Cars Before Rolls-Royce started selling bougie land yachts, it was known for its airplane engines. For example, its Merlin engine was a force to be reckoned with in fighter planes during World War II. Over 120 years since its inception, Rolls-Royce is still in the aeronautical sector with a 12% market share. In particular, its products can be found in many long-haul widebody jets. Rolls' Trent 1000 powers some Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, and Rolls says the plane is 25% more fuel-efficient than its predecessor, the Boeing 767. Rolls-Royce engines also propel some examples of the widebody Boeing 777, the fuel-guzzling double-decker 747, and what remains of the largest single-aisle jet ever, the Boeing 757. Like CFM, Rolls-Royce prefers to diversity its clientele and happily accepts engine purchases from Airbus, too — for example, the Airbus A330 and A350 long-haul jets. Next up is General Electric, which also has a fairly small — about 14% — share of worldwide jet engine manufacturing. That's understandable, since most of its involvement in aerospace is via the CFM joint venture with Safran. Alone, GE turbofan engines appear on both Boeing and Airbus products in small quantities. Especially the Boeing double-aisle widebodies. An American Company Hit Big With EU's Airbus (But Sells To Boeing, Too) Finally, we come to Pratt & Whitney, a veritable institution in American aviation since 1917. When it's not building engines for fighter jets or cruise missiles, P&W captures about 35% of the market for commercial jet engines. That includes a presence at some level in nearly all Boeing products, excepting newer models like the 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner. P&W sells to Airbus, too. Notably, its engines are the only ones used in the new-ish A220 narrow-body jet, a feather in the company's cap to be sure. So there you have it. Boeing uses four sources to procure jet engines for its planes: CFM, General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce. And not a single one of those companies has a problem crossing the aisle to sell to rival manufacturer Airbus. Clearly, some passengers prefer one aircraft brand or another — for example, avoiding airlines with the largest Boeing fleets following an awful 2024 for the brand. However, under the engine nacelles, there's little difference to be had between the two aircraft giants. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
ESA selects 5 rocket companies for European Launcher Challenge
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The European Space Agency (ESA) has taken a step toward diversifying its access to space. ESA has chosen five rocket companies to pass through to the next round of its competition to encourage and support the development of new launch vehicles. The agency announced on July 7 that it had selected German companies Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), Maiaspace from France, Spain's PLD Space and Orbital Express Launch, or Orbex, which is based in the United Kingdom, to proceed to the next stage of its European Launcher Challenge. The European Launcher Challenge (ELC) is a new scheme to promote new small and medium-sized launch vehicles and boost competitiveness in Europe, which for decades has relied on large Ariane rockets. The challenge was announced in November 2023, followed by a request for information and a formal call for proposals in March 2025, leading to ESA announcing the preselected challengers. The ELC has two components. The first is for launch services to be performed for ESA from 2026 to 2030, while the second is for development and demonstration of larger, upgraded launchers. Each chosen company will be eligible for up to 169 million euros ($198 million US) in support to cover one or both of these components. The ESA member states will finalize funding decisions in November at the agency's crucial ministerial council, which will set funding for projects for the next three years. Both Isar Aerospace and RFA have made it to the pad already. Isar's Spectrum rocket had a first, short-lived flight in March from Norway, with the launcher exploding seconds in flight. RFA's RFA One rocket exploded on the pad in the Shetland Islands back in August 2024 during a static fire test. RELATED STORIES — European Space Agency: Facts & information — Spanish company PLD Space launches rocket for 1st time — Scottish rocket startup Skyrora fails on 1st space launch attempt PLD Space conducted a suborbital flight of its Miura 1 rocket in 2023, as a stepping stone toward launching the orbital Miura 5. Orbex, meanwhile, is working on its Prime microlauncher, while Maiaspace is developing its reusable Maia rocket. These are not the only European companies engaged in developing new rockets, with Skyrora (U.K.), Latitude (France) and HyImpulse (Germany) at various stages of developing their rocket concepts. Solve the daily Crossword
