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ATLANTA, GA — February 3, 2026 — Under an ongoing effort with DARPA, SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia has been maturing rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) technology. At their test site in north Georgia, the company has been conducting a range of experiments to quantify the benefits of RDRE propulsion for a range of future applications. Static ground test activities have included hot-fire campaigns of a thruster (<500-lbf) using liquid storable propellants. The thruster was additively manufactured using NASA Alloy GRX-810.
Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
About SpaceWorks Enterprises
SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a recognized leader in advanced aerospace innovation. We deliver cutting-edge space and flight product development, systems engineering, custom software solutions, and aerospace economic consulting to a diverse range of customers. SpaceWorks is committed to catalyzing innovation in the commercial space industry—from concept design through to fully operational systems. Explore our mission and discover what’s next at SpaceWorks.aero.