Rocket Engines
Our rocket engines are built to customer specifications.  Below is a selection of engines that illustrate some of our capabilities.  Click on any engine class to learn more. (listed by order of thrust)

• XR-2P1 15 lbf N2O-Ethane
  R&D and educational, variable propellants and third fluid injections
   
• XR-3E17 56 lbf N2O-Ethane
  Stationkeeping - storable
   
• XR-3B4 50 lbf N2O-Isopropyl
  Stationkeeping - storable
  
  
• XR-3M9 50 lbf LOX-Methane
  Stationkeeping - storable
   
• XR-4A3 400 lbf LOX-Alcohol
  Auxilliary or primary propulsion
   
• XR-4K14 1,500 lbf LOX-Kerosene
  Primary propulsion, 'Rocket Racer' engine
   
• XR-4K5 1,800 lbf LOX-Kerosene
  Primary propulsion
   
• XR-5K18 2,700 lbf LOX-Kerosene
  Primary propulsion, Lynx
   
• XR-5M15 7,500 lbf LOX-Methane
  Primary propulsion, space storable

Click here to visit the XR-5M15 gallery

XR-5M15, LOX/Methane Main Engine

The XCOR XR-5M15 engine is test-fired at the Mojave Spaceport

XCOR was awarded a NASA contract jointly with Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) Tactical, Propulsion and Controls Division, GASL Operations to jointly design, build, and test a 33 kN (7500 lbf) LOX/methane pressure-fed engine for NASA’s Advanced Development LOX/Methane Engine Program. This engine was subsequently designated the XR-5M15.

In total , the XR-5M15 demonstrated a series of forty-three hot fire tests at our Mojave, California facilities. Applications for the 5M15 include returning manned space vehicles from Lunar orbit and Mars to the Earth, and to performing in-space maneuvering.

The approach was a rapid design, build and test of a workhorse main engine based closely on relevant design features from our previous engine programs. The 5M15 program built upon XCOR's existing 3M9 LOX/methane engine, as well as our 1,800 lbf 4K5, 10,000 lbf 5M12 design, and 400 lbf 4A3 engines. This engine was an interpolation between these recent designs.

XCOR 5M15 LOX/methane engine

This main engine development uses several features from the 3M9, including the same augmented torch electrical ignition system, and the propellant combination. The ATK-XCOR team is one of only a very few organizations to have an existing rocket engine running on LOX/methane.

Relevant features of the 4K5 engine include the igniter geometry, the torch spark igniter, and the fuel cooling configuration. While the 5M15 uses many of the same 4K5 component designs, we changed the fuel, lowered the chamber pressure, and increased the size.

Our 5M12 engine study is the closest configuration of the main engine. It was developed for a DARPA program through to layout design, but never built. The DARPA contract enabled us to develop the methane cooling analysis tools, which have been used with the 3M9 engine runs.

The 5M15 engine has many relevant features in it that are shared with XCOR’s FAA licensed manned vehicle, the EZ-Rocket.

The workhorse engine served several purposes. It validated the key engine design elements, including the regeneratively cooled chamber/throat assembly, the stability and performance of the injector, and the reliability of ignition. It incorporated a number of design features for safety and reliability, critical for human-rated application, that were demonstrated on previous XCOR engine designs. Finally, it is a modular design, which facilitated rapid test of new components during development, and enabled modification for future NASA Exploration applications.