ENGINEERING THE FUTURE
News Archive, 2015 - 2017
September 15, 2017 - Demonstrator 3 Aerospike Engine Ready to Start Tests at Spaceport America
The ground test stand and aerospike engine for the Demonstrator 3 rocket are ready for tests at ARCA Space Corporation.
The effort was completed in 60 days since the start of the fabrication process.
The system will perform a series of ground tests that will ultimately qualify the engine for flight. After the ground tests, the same engine will be integrated into the Demonstrator 3 rocket that will perform a suborbital space flight up to an altitude of 120 km above the New Mexico desert.
It will be the first ever flight of a linear aerospike engine and the first ever space flight of an aerospike engine. The engine, with a sea level thrust of 4.2 tons, uses hydrogen peroxide 70% as monopropellant. Despite low energy propellant, the rocket is able to reach space due to the use of an extremely lightweight tank and high efficiency aerospike engine.
The engine and the test stand were presented during an open house event held at ARCA.
More photos from the open house.
September 10, 2017 - DARPA Awarded ARCA a Contract for the ArcaBoard Technology
ARCA was awarded a contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the ArcaBoard technology. The contract is aiming at using the ArcaBoard as a solution to increase the capability and responsiveness of US troops on the battlefield.
June 15, 2017 - Demonstrator 3 Aerospike Test Vehicle for the Haas 2CA Will Fly from Spaceport America
Ground and vacuum tests are scheduled at ARCA and NASA’s Johnson/WSTF for the Haas 2CA engine. However, ARCA wants to gather more data about how the aerospike technology performs in flight, before the launch of the Haas 2CA, scheduled for 2018 from NASA’s Wallops Test Facility, in Virginia. This is where the Demonstrator 3 rocket comes in, continuing the tradition of ARCA’s previous demonstrator rockets.
Demonstrator 3 will perform a suborbital space flight up to an altitude of 100 km above the New Mexico desert in August 2017.
Soon we are going to know if the hopes and dreams of generations of aerospace engineers, in their pursuit to create what is supposed to be the most efficient rocket engine in the world, will materialize. We hope to confirm that rocket engines that are significantly more fuel efficient than the current engines are achievable and they can lead the way to the creation of Single Stage to Orbit rockets, that are more cost efficient and responsive.
“By sending the Demonstrator 3 rocket in space using a super cold engine, with only 250°C instead of 3500°C in the reaction chamber, paired with the aerospike technology, we are going to demonstrate the impressive potential of the aerospike. The Haas 2CA Single Stage to Orbit is just the beginning of a new generation of space vehicle, shaped by innovation that will generate lower cost. We are going to answer one of the industry’s most asked questions: can an aerospike deliver in flight the pressure compensation generated by altitude variation and deliver the expected performance by saving fuel? We want to pick up where NASA left off and prove that this technology is actually the way to go for space flights. We are confident that the aerospike engine combined with composite material fuel tanks and dense fuels will significantly lower the costs for orbital and suborbital launches. We truly believe that the answer for cost reduction of space flight is innovation, not trying to make old technologies a little bit more efficient. This will never generate significant price drop of space launches, but merely small improvements. With this philosophy in mind we expect to increase the registered value of our company from its current $20 million to at least $200 millions by 2019.” said Dumitru Popescu, ARCA CEO.
Demonstrator 3 aerospike rocket engine photos here.
April 19, 2017 - Haas 2CA Rocket Displayed in Las Cruces and Alamogordo, NM
The Haas 2CA rocket was presented today in Las Cruces and Alamogordo, New Mexico. The public had the opportunity to see the rocket and talk with the ARCA team about the project.
More photos from the Las Cruces presentation.
"Presenting the Has 2CA rocket in Alamogordo to the Space History Museum is a great honour for me. I was at the Museum for the first time in 2005 and returning here to display our company's rocket alongside Apollo, Gemini and Mercury hardware is a dream come true. A day to remember." - Dumitru Popescu, ARCA CEO
More photos from Alamogordo presentation.
March 29, 2017 - Haas 2CA Single Stage to Orbit Announced
ARCA Space Corporation is announcing the Haas 2CA, an innovative orbital launcher capable of placing itself, along with its payload, entirely into low Earth orbit without using multiple stages like current space vehicles. This kind of vehicle is known as being Single Stage to Orbit (SSTO). The Haas 2CA, named after Austrian-Romanian medieval rocket pioneer Conrad Haas (1509-1579), uses a linear aerospike engine that is around 30% more fuel efficient than the current rocket engines. It also uses ARCA’s highly advanced composite material propellant tanks that were tested by the company in the past 18 years. The rocket is fueled by hydrogen peroxide and kerosene, non-cryogenic, nontoxic propellants. ARCA Space Corporation is collaborating with NASA's Kennedy, Ames, Wallops, Marshall, Stennis, and Johnson Space Centers for the Cooperative Opportunity Program, aiming to increase the flight readiness of the vehicle for the first flight scheduled in 2018 from Wallops Flight Facility. ARCA is also discussing with Spaceport America regarding the possibility to launch the Haas 2CA vehicle from New Mexico. The Haas 2CA is designed to deliver the following results:
- Payload to LEO: 100kg (220lbs);
- Responsiveness: 24h;
- Cost/launch: $1,000,000;
- Cost/kg (lb): $10,000 ($4,545).
US congressman Steven Pierce, NASA and Spaceport America representatives visited ARCA's facility to learn more about the Haas 2CA program.
Haas 2CA open house event photos.
March 24, 2016 - ArcaBoard Among Top Luxury Vehicles Showcased at Top Marques in Monaco
ArcaBoard personal flying device was showcased at Top Marques prestigious event that took place between April 14th and 17th in Monaco. Live flight demonstration was performed by ARCA CEO Dumitru Popescu in front of Prince Albert II of Monaco and other top government officials and in front of journalists from many countries that attended the event. Participants at the event also had the opportunity visit ARCA show stand, to see ArcaBoard close up and to discuss with ARCA personnel. ArcaBoard was presented among other prestigious luxury vehicles from Europe and United States such as Aston Martin, Lexus, Jaguar, Porsche, Maserati and others.
More photos from the Top Marques event.
December 24, 2015 - ARCA Introduces ArcaBoard
ARCA Space Corporation announced today that it has created ArcaBoard. For the first time in history, every person will be able to fly whenever they want, wherever they want. ArcaBoard represents the first revolutionary breakthrough in motion since the the bicycle, automobile and airplane.
ArcaBoard, an electric powered flying machine with 272 horsepower and 203,000 watts of installed power is the most powerful and lightest personal vehicle ever created. ArcaBoard represents total freedom of movement, total freedom of travel. ArcaBoard is a personal vehicle that can move in every possible direction including upwards. The retail price is $19,900 and is available for order now. Shipments will start April 15, 2016.
“ArcaBoard represents a revolution in motion. For the last 17 years we have developed aerospace technologies that looked to the sky. We took our knowledge and applied it to everyone’s dreams. Dreams of flying,” said Dumitru Popescu, CEO of ARCA Space Corporation.
ArcaBoard is built from composite materials, it has a length of 145x76x15 cm (57x30x6 inches) and a weight of 82 kg (180 lbs). This technology allows a person with a weight up to 110 kg (243 lbs) to be able to fly.
The vehicle is able to fly up to 30 cm (1 ft) and with speeds up to 20 km/h (12.5 mph) and the overall performance is limited by the onboard sensors. The maximum endurance is 6 minutes, but with the ArcaDock accessory the user can be back in action in 35 minutes.
November 12, 2015 - ARCA Tests the Accelerator in New Mexico
The Accelerator (the catapult) for the AirStrato aircraft was tested today at Las Cruces Airport. The same location was used by Northrop-Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge.
The Accelerator is designed to bring the AirStrato from zero to take-off speed in less than a second. The AirStrato is one of the largest Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the world capable to take-off on a distance of 7m (21ft). For this test, the team built a dummy aircraft (the yellow steel structure), that simulated the real aircraft weight. Today's test was a success. The tests will continue for the next days, in order to increase the system's performance.
November 6, 2015 - AirStrato Aircraft Assembled at ARCA's Facilities in New Mexico
AirStrato 0004 (red) and 0005 (blue), were assembled at ARCA's facilities at Las Cruces International Airport. The avionics integration is underway and the AirStrato flight tests will start in short time at Spaceport America. Meanwhile, the aircraft is going through the FAA certification process.
More photos with the AirStrato at ARCA's facilities.
October 5, 2015 - ARCA Team First Meeting in Las Cruces
The first meeting of ARCA Team took place at our facilities in Las Cruces International Airport. Our new employees are all New Mexico residents, as ARCA is decided to support the local economy. Almost all new employees are New Mexico State University graduates, qualified as aerospace and avionics engineers, mechanics and electrical technicians. This team will be in charge with AirStrato flight tests at Spaceport America, tests that will begin at the end of this year.
More photos with the ARCA US team.
September 1, 2015 - Spaceport America and ARCA Announce Partnership for Space Launch Vehicle and High Altitude Autonomous Aircraft Testing
Spaceport America - the world's first purpose-built, commercial spaceport announced today ARCA Space Corporation has selected Spaceport America as the site for its space launch vehicle and high altitude autonomous aircraft testing.
ARCA will engineer, manufacture, test and bring to market innovative and affordable aerospace products such as the AirStrato UAS and Haas rocket series from its new global headquarters.
Spaceport America's facilities and access to protected airspace offer unique opportunities for test flights and experimental operations that complement the capabilities of Las Cruces International Airport and New Mexico State University's Physical Sciences Laboratory UAS Flight Test Center, together enabling ARCA Space Corporation to leverage the full suite of aerospace capabilities offered by southern New Mexico.
"Only in New Mexico did we find the perfect combination of aerospace assets, airspace and affordability," emphasized Dumitru Popescu, Founder and CEO of ARCA Space Corporation. "Proximity to Spaceport America and the expansive access to airspace were crucial factors in our decision to locate our global headquarters to Las Cruces, New Mexico in the United States."
Beginning later this year, ARCA Space Corporation expects to be operating autonomous aircraft testing activities at Spaceport America with space launch activity beginning in 2016.
August 7, 2015 - AirStrato Aircraft Shippment Arrived in New Mexico
Two AirStrato aircraft and the ground support equipment arrived today at ARCA's facilities from the Las Cruces Airport, New Mexico, after one month of travel on the sea and land between Europe and America.
The aircraft and equipment were unloaded today and stored in ARCA's hangars at the airport.
July 13, 2015 - AirStrato Air-robot to Start the Flight Tests in New Mexico
Today, ARCA Space Corporation CEO, Dumitru Popescu and Governor Susana Martinez announced the start of ARCA SPACE Corporation activity in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This activity will include the production and flight tests of AirStrato UAS and Haas rocket series at ARCA's new facilities from Las Cruces Airport.
The company will invest $1.2 million to start the activities. The New Mexico Economic Development Department will contribute $500,000 in Local Economic Development funds toward the construction of ARCA's new 14,000 sq. ft. hangar and manufacturing space. The City of Las Cruces will also provide ARCA Space abated lease of office, showroom and hanger space for one year - an estimated value of $55,000.
More photos from the announcement event.
June 24, 2015 - Equipment Delivery from ARCA Europe to US-based
ARCA Space Corporation
As part of relocation program of ARCA from Europe to US, the first transport of equipment has left our facilities, from Constanta-Romania, to the ARCA SPACE CORPORATION facilities in US. The transport will take one month and it will arrive in Houston, TX and by there, by truck to Las Cruces, NM
January 31, 2015 - The Interface Prototype for AirStrato Was Completed
The command and control center for the AirStrato aircraft, called the Interface, was completed today.
It is designed to communicate with the AirStrato via satellite, no matter how far away from aircraft. It allows the pilot to view all flight parameters, to program the autopilot or to control the aircraft assisted or in full manual mode. It also enables the pilot to activate or deactivate sub-systems or to interact with the aircraft payload. The interface is built entirely from composites.
Only high quality equipment was used on the Interface, from the display, HOTAS system, keyboard and mouse and of course the computer.
A special attention was given to the design. ARCA put a lot of hours in creating a beautiful curved design that complements the AirStrato and Accelerator.