RocketLab is testing a new hyperCurie engine that will propel its delivery vehicle into deep space – TechCrunch

Rocket laboratory According to the CEO and founder, he is already in the testing phase of a new engine he is building to power his next Photon Lunar spacecraft. Peter beck . Beck shared an image of the engine, called hyperCurie, being tested by the company's boosters team.

HyperCurie, as its name suggests, is an evolution of the Curie engine which is currently piloting the third stage of the Electron

rocket that Rocket Lab uses for its missions, as well as the Photon satellite bus. HyperCurie will power the next Photon Lunar, which is a new satellite bus developed by Rocket Lab to transport small payloads to the Moon, Mars, Venus and even beyond.

Rocket Lab got a contract to launch a payload to the Moon on behalf of NASA in February and clearly sees more opportunities to deliver small satellites both into lunar orbit and into other distant destinations on behalf of the agency. , as well as other customers. NASA's lunar mission will be a precursor to the agency's ultimate goal of building and deploying a Lunar Gateway orbital station near the Moon, which will be a key element for the future exploration of the Moon and long-term human missions.

Beck previously shared a detailed schematic drawing of Photon Lunar earlier this month, showing the next spacecraft with the hyperCurie engine attached. HyperCurie uses electric pumps, unlike the pressure-fed Curie, to improve its performance and produce more thrust.

Rocket Lab's lunar delivery mission to NASA will take place in 2021 within the current timeframe, so it makes sense that the engine is already advanced enough to be in active test phase.