INVICTUS

The European Space Agency (ESA) and UK-based engineering and technology consultancy Frazer-Nash have officially launched INVICTUS, a cutting-edge research program. The initiative is geared towards advancing hypersonic technologies for future reusable vehicles capable of horizontal launch.

Key aspects of the INVICTUS program:

• Funding: INVICTUS is supported by funding through ESA’s General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and Technology Development Element (TDE).
• Vehicle Capabilities: The program focuses on developing a fully reusable experimental aerospace vehicle designed to fly at speeds of Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound). This vehicle will serve as a demonstrator for key technologies essential for sustained hypersonic flight within Earth’s atmosphere.
• Upgradability: A crucial design feature is the vehicle’s upgradable nature, allowing for the exchange of materials, software, and propulsion systems between flight test campaigns.
• Technological Foundation: INVICTUS builds upon previous technology developments managed by ESA, notably leveraging the precooler system developed by UK-based Reaction Engines Ltd (REL) through ESA’s SABRE (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine) study.
• Hydrogen-Fueled Propulsion: The program aims to prove the suitability of a hydrogen-fueled precooled air-breathing propulsion system for horizontal take-off and hypersonic flight.
• Timeline: Over the next 12 months from its launch (around July 2025), the consortium will deliver the preliminary design of the full hypersonic flight system, with the ambitious goal of building and flying a Mach 5-capable aircraft at the edge of space by early 2031.