Ursa Major, one of America's leading privately funded companies focused solely on rocket propulsion, announced an agreement with launch provider Vector Launch to support Vector’s recently awarded U.S. national security contract.

Ursa Major will supply several 5,000-pound thrust “Hadley” engines to power the main stage of Vector-R launch vehicles to demonstrate capabilities for future missions.

“Partnering with Ursa Major allows Vector Launch to pair its vehicle and responsive-launch innovations with world-class propulsion, said Jeff Lane, Chief Technology Officer at Vector Launch. “Ursa Major’s reliable, high-performing rocket engines will help ensure a successful demonstration and create a key national security capability for our company.”

Vector Launch is focused on solving complex national security challenges facing the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Defense, and other government agencies.

The Vector-R launch system.

The mission will demonstrate a liquid-fueled vehicle and launch using the Vector-R system, which includes:

• Responsive mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) capability for rapid deployment from any location
• Remotely controlled, secure command-and-control sub-system designed to survive adverse conditions
• Reusable launch infrastructure

“Until very recently, launch companies had nowhere to turn for reliable, high-performing propulsion on-demand,” said Brad Appel, Chief Technology Officer at Ursa Major. “Vector Launch is yet another example of a forward-thinking, results-driven launch provider that’s going to support its customers’ missions with Ursa Major engines.”

The Ursa Major Hadley engine is a 5,000-pound thrust, oxygen-rich staged combustion (ORSC) engine fueled by liquid kerosene. Hadley is highly reliable, with more than 50,000 seconds of test runtime, far more than a typical engine is tested prior to the first flight.

A Hadley engine hotfire test at Ursa Major’s facility in Berthoud, CO.

Ursa Major focuses solely on propulsion to lower the cost and risks of the most expensive, time-consuming, and risky aspect of space launch. Ursa Major’s flexible rocket engines can be used for various missions, from air launches to hypersonic flight and on-orbit missions.

Click here to learn about Rocket Engines from Ursa Major.