Rocket Engines
Masters of designing, building, and testing next-generation rocket engines.
Reusable & Reliable Engines
As experts in propulsion, we design our rocket engines for reliability, reusability, and performance. Masten’s engines have evolved with the latest technologies, assembly techniques, and propellants over the last 18+ years. Each new engine stands on the shoulders of the engines from our past, incorporating lessons learned and best practices for each new design. These engines not only power Masten’s landers, they’re also sold directly to customers and used in our test stands to advance new space technologies.
Small Launch Vehicle Engines
Tachi
A 6,000 lbf thrust engine built with PermiAM, Masten’s patent-pending additive manufacturing method that enables fewer parts, lower costs, and improved performance. With deep throttling capabilities and a low-mass design, the engine uses liquid propellants to run at much higher, more efficient specific impulse, which means less fuel is required. It’s expandable to support multi-engine configurations with a single turbopump and gas generator. Ideal for small launch vehicles, Tachi will also be used on Xogdor, Masten’s sixth-generation vertical takeoff and vertical landing vehicle.
Propellant: Liquid Oxygen / Liquid Methane
Broadsword
A next-generation 25,000 lbf thrust dual expander cycle engine with a custom-developed aluminum metal matrix composite thrust chamber assembly. The engine is additively manufactured using just three parts, providing a low-cost solution for reusable launch vehicles. Broadsword was developed through the DARPA XS-1 program and further matured through a NASA Tipping Point contract.
Propellants: Liquid Oxygen / Methane
Katana
A 4,000 lbf thrust aluminum chamber engine for technology development that’s regeneratively cooled. It’s currently retired after being reused for multiple hot fire test campaigns since 2012.
Propellants: Liquid Oxygen / Isopropyl Alcohol
Lunar & In-space Engines
RCS 20 lbf
A 20 lbf reaction control system (RCS) thruster for use in a vacuum environment. This thruster allows us conduct hot fire tests in pressure environments for customer test campaigns and future in-space vehicle work.
Propellants: Gaseous Oxygen / Gaseous Methane
RCS 20 lbf
A 20 lbf reaction control system (RCS) thruster for use in a vacuum environment. This thruster allows us conduct hot fire tests in pressure environments for customer test campaigns and future in-space vehicle work.
Propellants: Gaseous Oxygen / Gaseous Methane
Machete 225 lbf
A 225 lbf thrust engine to conduct testing for Masten’s proprietary green hypergolic bi-propellant for lunar and planetary landers. Machete was developed in collaboration with NASA on the Lunar CATALYST program.
Propellants: MXP-351
Machete 225 lbf
A 225 lbf thrust engine to conduct testing for Masten’s proprietary green hypergolic bi-propellant for lunar and planetary landers. Machete was developed in collaboration with NASA on the Lunar CATALYST program.
Propellants: MXP-351
RCS 10/50 lbf
A 10 lbf to 50 lbf reaction control system thruster built to conduct additional green hypergolic bi-propellant testing and for use on lunar and planetary landers.
Propellants: MXP-351
RCS 10/50 lbf
A 10 lbf to 50 lbf reaction control system thruster built to conduct additional green hypergolic bi-propellant testing and for use on lunar and planetary landers.
Propellants: MXP-351
Terrestrial Lander Engines
Scimitar
A 1,200 lbf thrust main engine that’s currently in use on Xodiac, our fifth-generation vertical takeoff and vertical landing vehicle. The engine has powered more than 100 successful flights with 35,000+ seconds of operation and still counting! It can be used with a copper or aluminum engine chamber and was evolved from Hatchet.
Propellants: Liquid Oxygen / Isopropyl Alcohol
Hatchet
A 750 lbf thrust main engine used on Xombie, our first vertical takeoff and vertical landing vehicle. The engine has powered more than 220 successful flights with more than 15,000 seconds of operation heritage.
Propellants: Liquid Oxygen / Isopropyl Alcohol
R&D Engines
Hex 1,000 lbf
A 1,000 lbf thrust steel chamber engine, used to validate new additively manufactured rocket engine designs and materials.
Propellants: Oxygen / Methane
Hex 1,000 lbf
A 1,000 lbf thrust steel chamber engine, used to validate new additively manufactured rocket engine designs and materials.
Propellants: Oxygen / Methane
ME 200 lbf
A 200 lbf thrust multi-element engine with an Inconel chamber built with Masten’s PermiAM additive manufacturing method. The modular engine is ideal for testing new materials, nozzle extensions, igniters, and other hardware or software. A calorimetry version is also available.
Propellants: Oxygen / Methane
ME 200 lbf
A 200 lbf thrust multi-element engine with an Inconel chamber built with Masten’s PermiAM additive manufacturing method. The modular engine is ideal for testing new materials, nozzle extensions, igniters, and other hardware or software. A calorimetry version is also available.
Propellants: Oxygen / Methane
SE 100 lbf
A 100 lbf thrust single element engine. It can be traditionally manufactured or 3D printed with PermiAM using steel, aluminum, copper, Inconel, or plastic, depending on the application and customer need. The modular engine also enables us to test new materials, hardware, and software. A calorimetry version is available.
Propellants: Oxygen / Methane
SE 100 lbf
A 100 lbf thrust single element engine. It can be traditionally manufactured or 3D printed with PermiAM using steel, aluminum, copper, Inconel, or plastic, depending on the application and customer need. The modular engine also enables us to test new materials, hardware, and software. A calorimetry version is available.
Propellants: Oxygen / Methane
Engine Igniters
Torch
Igniter fine-tuned over hundreds of engine runs, including mid-air engine relights. Currently in use for Xombie, Xodiac, and our engine test stands.
Propellants: Oxygen/Isopropyl Alcohol and Oxygen/Methane