Reaction Dynamics earns CSA grant for composite propellant tanks, hybrid rocket fuel

Rocket manufacturing company Reaction Dynamics (RDX, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada) has been awarded $1.5 million from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to advance its Aurora orbital launch vehicle program. The 18-meter rocket will feature a booster stage with several carbon fiber composite tanks designed in-house by RDX’s structures team to store liquid oxidizer.

The CSA’s contribution will go toward two projects. First, $1 million will drive the development of a large composite propellant tank. Optimizing the mass of propellant tanks is critical for improving Aurora’s launch capabilities. This project builds on RDX’s expertise in composite pressure vessels as it moves toward a full-scale demonstration. The company says that its goal is to maximize Aurora’s payload capacity, with a spaceflight demo planned for 2025.

The rest of the award ($500,000) will support the development of a carbon-neutral, eco-friendly fuel for the hybrid rocket engine. The RDX team is working on a high-performance fuel mixture derived from biopolymers, aiming to launch payloads with a fraction of the emissions compared to traditional options. 

RDX was founded in 2017 with a mission to facilitate routine space access by introducing a responsive, safe and cost-effective launch vehicle. The cornerstone of the company's innovation lies in its launch technology, which harnesses a novel hybrid propulsion system that is reported to significantly reducing the cost and environmental impact associated with access to space when compared to prevailing methods. Reaction Dynamics' initial demonstration suborbital launch vehicle is currently set for its inaugural flight in the next year as part of the Aurora test program.

Earlier this year, the company also made a successful bid for funding from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED). The company has been supported by a contribution agreement of up to $1.5 million to further its R&D efforts.