German launch startup HyImpulse Technologies has announced the successful completion of the assembly and integration of its first SR75 launch vehicle.
The HyImpulse SR75 is a one-stage suborbital rocket capable of carrying payloads of up to 250 kilograms to a maximum altitude of 200 kilometres. The vehicle is powered by the company’s HyPLOX-75 hybrid rocket engine that utilizes paraffin and liquid oxygen.
HyImpulse announced 13 November that it had successfully completed the assembly and integration of the first SR75 launch vehicle.
The maiden flight of the SR75 launch vehicle will be conducted from SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland. The company received approval for the flight from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on 28 July. The licence gives the company the green light to launch the maiden SR75 flight between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024.
SaxaVord is currently awaiting CAA approval of its spaceport licence application. However, the CAA has confirmed that the launch facility will not need the licence to support the maiden SR75 flight. According to the CAA, the licence is not needed for suborbital flights that do not exceed an altitude of 50 kilometres aboard vehicles equipped with engines below a predetermined size. The maiden flight of SR75 has a target altitude of 47 kilometres.
To support the launch of the maiden SR75 flight, SaxaVord is in the process of completing a launch rail. The project is being supported by a £378,000 grant from the UK Space Agency.
In addition to being capable of flying microgravity research missions, the SR75 will also serve as a technology demonstrator for the company’s larger SL1 launch vehicle. The suborbital vehicle will validate a number of key systems, including propellant management, rocket structures, avionics, and flight software.
