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On December 13, 2018, the Virgin Galactic company used this rocket motor to power the first spaceflight of the SpaceShipTwo rocket plane VSS Unity.

It is a hybrid rocket engine, which has a cast solid propellant inside the casing. The plastic polyamide fuel is burned with liquid nitrous oxide that is injected into the central cavity of the solid propellant and then ignited. The solid propellant is consumed and the casing is now empty. The engine produces 70,000 lbs. of thrust (310,000 N). The test flight reached an altitude of 51.3 miles (82.72 km).

Virgin Galactic donated this rocket engine casing to the National Air and Space Museum in February 2019.

Display Status

This object is on display in Futures In Space at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Futures In Space

Object Details

Date

c. 2018

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

PROPULSION-Rocket Engines

Manufacturer

The Spaceship Company

Dimensions

3-D (Rocket Motor): 452.1 × 99.1 × 95.9cm (14 ft. 10 in. × 3 ft. 3 in. × 3 ft. 1 3/4 in.)
3-D (Rocket Motor with Stand): 452.1 × 121.9 × 154.9cm, 725.3kg (14 ft. 10 in. × 4 ft. × 5 ft. 1 in., 1599lb.)
3-D (Stand, base only (does not include mounts)): 304.8 × 121.9 × 27.3cm (10 ft. × 4 ft. × 10 3/4 in.)

Materials

Reinforced carbon composite, metal, plastic

Inventory Number

A20190352000

Credit Line

Gift of Virgin Galactic

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use.