Full-Flow Staged Combustion Engine
Advanced propulsion research inspired by SpaceX Raptor 3
The Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) cycle represents the pinnacle of rocket engine design—a configuration that extracts maximum performance from every drop of propellant. Unlike traditional engines that waste energy, FFSC systems route all propellant through turbines before combustion, achieving unprecedented efficiency.
Our research focuses on four critical subsystems, each presenting unique engineering challenges that push the boundaries of materials science and thermodynamics.
Oxygen-Rich Turbopump
Operating in oxygen-rich environments at extreme temperatures, this system demands materials that can withstand oxidative stress while maintaining structural integrity under high-speed rotation.
Fuel-Rich Turbopump
The fuel-rich side manages cryogenic propellants while precisely controlling mixture ratios—critical for maintaining combustion stability and preventing destructive oscillations.
Main Combustion Chamber
Where chemistry becomes thrust. We're optimizing injection patterns and chamber geometry to achieve complete combustion while managing thermal loads that would melt most materials.
Bell Nozzle
Computational fluid dynamics guides our nozzle design, optimizing expansion ratios for performance across varying atmospheric conditions—from sea level to vacuum.
This work directly supports Hypersona's vision of making point-to-point rocket travel economically viable and safe for regular passenger operations.