ENGINEERING THE FUTURE
News Archive, 2018 - 2020
November 17, 2020 - Future of Rockets, Keynote
During ARCA's Future of Rockets Keynote, the EcoRocket was presented.
EcoRocket is built around the Launch Assist System (LAS) water-based ecological propulsion technology.
ARCA’s EcoRocket aims to become a stepping stone for the development of future orbital vehicles in terms of cost effectiveness and environment protection.
EcoRocket packs the Launch Assist System (LAS) as first stage and Haas rocket technology as the upper stage.
September 20, 2020 - LAS-25DA Aerospike Engine First Hop
ARCA performed the fifth test of Launch Assist System rocket propulsion technology that generates water vapors instead of current polluting, toxic propellants. Although due to a tank problem the engine run was performed at a lower pressure than desired, the engine demonstrated not only through sensors measurements but also visually the thrust capability. ARCA performed this test to gather data for the reusable Vertical Take-Off and Landing first stage of its orbital rocket.
August 21, 2020 - LAS-25DA Aerospike Engine Lifted in the DTS
The ecological aerospike test article was lifted in the Dynamic Test Stand (DTS) in preparation for the first hop.
July 7, 2020 - New Dynamic Test Stand (DTS) Assembled at ARCA
The Dynamic Test Stand (DTS) is finally assembled and ready to support the LAS 25DA rocket. This rocket will perform the first vertical take-off and landing in the DTS. It's going to be world's largest aerospike rocket engine to take-off and it's going to happen very soon.
May 27, 2020 - LAS-25DA Aerospike Engine to Perform a First Hop
The aerospike engine for the upcoming Mission 9 VTOL flight tests is in the final phase of assembly. This will be the largest aerospike in the world ever to fly. The flight test was initially scheduled for the end of April from Cape Midia Air Force Base, but we needed to reschedule because of the lockdown. Now, the preparations are back on track with an expected first hop in June.
December 20, 2019 - LAS-25DA Aerospike Engine Test
On December 20th, 2019, ARCA tested the aerospike rocket engine for the Launch Assist System. The data from the sensors have shown a 15% more specific impulse compared with the classic bell-shaped nozzle rocket engine previously tested.
ARCA created an electric, water based rocket that works as first stage, or booster for launch vehicles, allowing the reduction of polluting propellant with around 25%, or boost the payload capability with around 30% pollution free. But LAS isn't only clean, it is unprecedentedly safe and cost effective.
Like early electric cars, an electric rocket is not as efficient as one using polluting fuels. But it’s ideal as launch booster or first stage. ARCA named it Launch Assist System (LAS).
December 18, 2019 - LAS-25DA Aerospike Engine Integrated in the Test Stand
The aerospike rocket engine using the Launch Assist System electric, water-based propulsion technology was integrated on the test stand awaiting the first start before Christmas.
October 25, 2019 - LAS-25DI, Night Test
ARCA performed the first night test for the LAS-25DI rocket engine and the third test overall, pushing the engine's envelope even further, gathering data for the first aerospike engine test.
October 18, 2019 - LAS-25D Rocket Engine, Second Test
ARCA performed the second test for the LAS 25DI pushing the test article's envelope further. In short time the third test will follow and the construction of world's first water based, electric, aerospike, VTOL rocket already started at ARCA. We expect this propulsion technology to become an alternative to the polluting, toxic, carcinogenic propellants used today in rocket propulsion. For instance, using the LAS technology, the Haas rocket will use only 6 tons of polluting propellants instead of 16 tons, and 12 tons of water for the same payload capability.
May 19, 2019 - ARCA Officially Wrote History
The aerospace technology developed by ARCA over the last 20 years has officially entered the patrimony of the National Museum of Romanian Aviation.
"Today is one of the most important days of my life because it is an official confirmation that what we have done will be recognized, even after we, the designers and constructors, will be long gone. We thank the Air Force Staff, the National Museum of Romanian Aviation and the sponsors, without which none of this could have been accomplished. Thank you to the ARCA team for deduction and the work done over the last 20 years, for the patience and determination you have shown to reach this moment when it is confirmed that you made history. The story of ARCA continues, more ambitious than ever. " - Dumitru Popescu, ARCA President
More photos from the exhibition opening.
April 21, 2019 - First LAS-25D Rocket Engine Test
Current rockets are using polluting, explosive, corrosive, toxic, carcinogenic propellants. At launch, a rocket releases polluting chemicals into the atmosphere as much as 1 million cars running simultaneously.
ARCA created an electric, water based rocket that works as first stage, or booster for launch vehicles, allowing the reduction of polluting propellant with around 25%, or boost the payload capability with around 30% pollution free. But LAS isn't only clean, it is unprecedentedly safe and cost effective.
Like early electric cars, an electric rocket is not as efficient as one using polluting fuels. But it’s ideal as launch booster or as a first stage.
ARCA named it Launch Assist System (LAS).
During the first test of LAS-25D we've performed the following:
- Test procedures verification;
- Instrumentation calibration;
- Safety parameters procedures implementation;
- Team training with live test firing;
- 20% from max duration and thrust capability.
February 21, 2019 - The LAS-25D Rocket Engine Was Integrated in the Test Stand
The complete LAS-25D was integrated in the rocket engine test stand and is ready for sensors and data acquisition system integration.
December 29, 2018 - LAS-25D Rocket Engine Fit-check in the Test Stand
A first fit check of the LAS-25D rocket engine with the rocket engine test stand was performed today.
The engine is ready for final integration and connection with the stand interface and the tank for the upcoming test.
December 24, 2018 - LAS Tank, Sensors Integration
The tank that will be used for the first LAS-25D rocket engine test was equipped with the sensors and additional electrical hardware needed for the test.
December 4, 2018 - ARCA Donated Previously Developed Rockets to the Air Force Museum
ARCA donated to the Romanian Air Force Museum previously developed rockets and drones to be displayed in a permanent exhibition. ARCA is proud of this achievement which confirms that dedication and hard work could eventually become part of history.
November 23, 2018 - An Extremely Cost-effective Rocket Engine will be Developed at ARCA
The Launch Assist System LAS-25D is a rocket engine that uses water-based propulsion aiming to significantly lower the cost of spaceflight.
Although the engine's performance is deemed to be around three to four times lower than conventional hot, polluting, rocket engines we traded the high performance for extreme coste effectiveness and sustainability.
The engine will be used for the propulsion of first stages or as booster for a hot propulsion rocket, contributing to the increase of rocket's payload mass or decrease of polluting propellant mass while the payload remains the same.
September 1, 2018 - ARCA Presented the Rebuilt Aerospike Engine for the Demonstrator 3 Rocket
After the operations relocation in Romania, the Demonstrator 3 rocket engine was rebuilt with the intent to resume the work for the Demonstrator 3 rocket at full capacity.
The engine was presented during an open house event, held at ARCA's rocket engine test stand.