iRocket, a company specializing in reusable rockets, has signed a contract with the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) to further develop its rocket engine technology. The contract, worth $1.8 million, is funded through AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force.
Under the contract, iRocket will work on its highly reusable rocket engine, which aims to transform how launch vehicles are powered. The engine will use clean and sustainable propellant, allowing for 24-hour turnaround launch cycles. It will also be capable of delivering payloads to multiple orbits, including low Earth orbit (LEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and the moon. Additionally, the iRocket Shockwave launch vehicle will be used for critical cargo delivery for national security and humanitarian aid missions.
As part of the contract, iRocket will conduct a full-duration static fire test for 120-180 seconds to demonstrate its 35,000 lbs. thrust reusable engine. The engine runs on a combination of liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane fuel, which is environmentally safe.
This contract is a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) that follows a Phase II SBIR contract awarded to iRocket in July 2020. During that phase, iRocket successfully demonstrated three operation modes of its booster engine: Augmented, Unaugmented, and Landing mode. The engine allows the Shockwave launch vehicle to land both the first and second stages, including the fairing, and is designed for immediate reuse.
Asad Malik, founder and CEO of iRocket, believes that this contract extension is a testament to the value their technology brings to national security missions. He states that the AFWERX mission is to help the Space Force benefit from innovation in the private sector, and iRocket’s launcher meets the need for lower launch costs and increased operational tempo in delivering assets to orbit. Additionally, the Shockwave vehicle’s autonomous vertical landing capability makes it suitable for fast and secure point-to-point cargo delivery on the ground.
Unlike other reusable launch vehicles, the Shockwave engine is purpose-built for frequent reuse, similar to an airplane engine. The LOX/methane combination it uses burns clean and doesn’t leave residue or build-up that needs to be removed before relaunch. Its single combustor design also ensures low turbine temperatures for reliability and easy maintenance.
The Shockwave launcher is designed for payloads ranging from 300 to 1500 kg. It stands at 125 feet tall with a nine-foot diameter and has vertical takeoff capabilities, allowing for inland launch capability. iRocket has previously received Phase I and Phase II contracts with the Space System Command in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The company plans to launch its first vehicle in late 2027.
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