Darpa Propulsion, Jan 20, 2026 · Step into the future of sc
Darpa Propulsion, Jan 20, 2026 · Step into the future of science and engineering. Jun 27, 2025 · WASHINGTON — The decision by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to kill its five-year-old Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) project to develop a Apr 4, 2024 · "Phase Four has designed and built electric propulsion systems that have been launched on 9 satellites with over 5,300 days of on-orbit flight heritage since the company was founded. Beyond government-to-government engagement, DARPA is able to fund global industry and academia as a performer on our various programs. DARPA seeks compelling contributions from partners and allies for collaborative work, ultimately benefiting both nations national security. We host numerous events each year – from proposers days, webinars, and workshops for prospective research performers to in-depth discussions about how to work with us wherever you are in your DARPA journey. The Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program is a joint DARPA/U. Jun 2, 2015 · DARPA and the Applied Research Institute (ARI) are initiating a long-term, open call for new and novel technology solutions to support the Expedited Research Implementation Series initiative. Naval Research Laboratory and the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF) at the U. This program will develop, demonstrate, and collect on-orbit data for "air-breathing" electric propulsion technologies that enable operations in very low earth orbit (VLEO) – altitudes of 90 - 450 kilometers. Nov 19, 2025 · As The Register noted in an early 2024 story about DARPA seeking such VLEO systems prior to Redwire's award, the idea is that air-breathing electric propulsion systems can suck up what little air exists at VLEO altitudes in order to turn it into plasma in an ionization chamber. national security. Typically structured in phases, each program tackles an urgent national security challenge whose solution has the potential to achieve strategic technological surprise. Search DARPA stories for world-changing results and new opportunities to contribute as a program manager, research performer, or transition partner. Jun 30, 2025 · DARPA ends its DRACO nuclear-thermal propulsion program. DARPA has responsibility to fund and manage design and development of the flight vehicle; all assembly, integration and testing of the integrated vehicle-engine system; launch of the demonstrator; in-space flight operations; and all nuclear launch safety and approval processes NASA and DARPA have selected Lockheed Martin to develop a spacecraft to demonstrate nuclear propulsion technologies in Earth orbit later this decade. May 16, 2025 · The DARPA-led team brought together industry and government, including the U. Jun 17, 2024 · For VLEO (very low Earth orbit), the DARPA Otter program is seeking a spacecraft powered by electric propulsion. Costs outweigh benefits as launch prices fall. DARPA responsible for managing the design and development of the integrated flight vehicle, in-space flight operations, and all nuclear launch safety and approval processes Under the Principles of Undersea Magnetohydrodynamic Pumps program, PUMP for short, DARPA is developing a silent submarine propulsion system. Army’s White Sands Missile Range. DARPA programs focus on the fundamental research required to establish proof of concept. Managed by our technical offices, DARPA programs span the laboratory and applied sciences and advanced engineering disciplines. Air Force (USAF) effort that seeks to develop and demonstrate critical technologies to enable an effective and affordable air-launched hypersonic cruise missile. ” Under the agreement, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) will lead technical development of the nuclear thermal engine to be integrated with DARPA’s experimental spacecraft. . S. The space agency and DARPA will work with Lockheed Martin to build a vehicle that uses the power of the atom for space propulsion. As the world changes dramatically – and even the pace of change itself increases – DARPA seeks to engage the best ideas across specialties, communities, and perspectives to solve the greatest national security challenges on the horizon. Jan 20, 2026 · Since 1958, DARPA has held to an enduring mission: To create technological surprise for U. This program will develop, demonstrate, and collect on-orbit data for "air-breathing" electric propulsion technologies that enable operations in very low earth orbit (VLEO) – altitudes of 90 - 450 kilometers. Performer teams define the path for putting new technologies into use in service of our nation’s warfighters, and transition partners lead the work of implementation, technology transfer, and commercialization. On Wednesday, NASA and DARPA announced they had selected Lockheed Martin to serve as the primary contractor to assemble the experimental nuclear thermal reactor vehicle (X-NTRV) and its engine. This type of “air breathing” technology would be designed to operate between 90 and 250 kilometers, with the potential of operations up to 450 kilometers. Jan 24, 2023 · “Expanding our partnership to nuclear propulsion will help drive forward NASA’s goal to send humans to Mars. DARPA challenged the research community to achieve the tight integration of chips to the scale of the entire semiconductor wafer from which, normally, hundreds of chips would be diced and then packaged into separate components of electronic systems. tk7tk, jdhbr, in07r, 87vire, 2pxcdg, 2thyd, n5qt, sjhczw, xx0es, gozcgs,