February 8, 2004 - Solenoid pilot valve manufacturing

Prototype manufacturing of a new light-weight electrically operated high-pressure solenoid pilot valve is scheduled to start this month. Solenoid valves are a key part of any liquid-propellant rocket engine, to control high-pressure gases and propellant flows.
Designed for gas pressure up to 100 bars, the valve will contain fittings for 8mm stainless steel tubing, and will draw approx. 8 amps @ 12 VDC for a period of max. 30 seconds continous operation. Intermittent cycle at down to 200 mS intervals is possible. Unit weight will be below 100 grams, which is far below conventional high-pressure solenoid valves.
This valve will be used in the new DRE pump design to control the ~70 bar CO2 gas flow.

December 7, 2003 - DRE-1 design

Design work is underway on DRE-1, a single-stage rocket fueled by kerosene (jet fuel) and stabilized 85% hydrogen peroxide (HTP). DRE-1 is meant to be a proof-of-concept only, and serves no other purpose that demonstrating our new pump concept. It will have an outer shell diameter of 153 mm, and a loaded weight of appx. 100 kg.
DRE-1 is planned launched in the spring of 2006.

September 21, 2003 - New pump design

A new design for a light-weight positive-displacement fuel pump powered by CO2 gas has been initiated. The pump is designed to provide up to ~70 bars of stable pressure @ 1 liter/sec, independant of liquid type and mass.

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