California-based startup Fenix Space has taken a major step toward creating a new system for launching payloads into orbit without relying on traditional spaceports. The company completed a week of testing for its Fenix Alpha prototype, confirming the vehicle's ability to take off and land using standard airfield infrastructure instead of vertical launch pads. This was reported by Ixbt.com reporting that.
The method proposed by Fenix Space resembles a glider launch: the launch vehicle takes off as a towed unit behind a carrier aircraft. After detaching at a specific altitude, the vehicle ignites its engines and heads toward space. During four test flights, the prototype successfully separated from the carrier and performed autonomous maneuvers.
Control was carried out using the company's proprietary software and avionics. These technologies will be integrated into the future Fenix 1.0 rocket. The project's relevance stems from the congestion of U.S. spaceports. From 2022 to 2025, the number of orbital launches in the U.S. more than doubled, yet the industry still relies on two main sites built in the 1960s.
Fenix Space CEO Jason Lee emphasized that utilizing existing runways and reusable aviation assets will significantly reduce mission costs. The company plans to launch the system commercially in 2028. The initial phase aims to deliver small satellites to low Earth orbit and conduct hypersonic tests.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
