Company:Evolution Space
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | December 2018 |
| Founder | Steve Heller, CEO |
| Headquarters | Mojave, California , United States |
| Website | evolutionspace |
Evolution Space is an American Private spaceflight aerospace company providing solid propulsion systems and small launch.[1][2] The company is run by CEO and founder Steve Heller, and is currently based in Mojave, California.[1]
History
Founded in 2018, the company began under the brand name Sugarhouse Aerospace with cofounders Steve Heller and Riley Meik.[3] The initial mission of the company was to be a provider of low cost access to space and suborbital launch with commercial launches from Spaceport America.[3][4] In 2021, the company rebranded to Evolution Space under CEO and founder Steve Heller,[1] with its first launch as Evolution Space in November of 2021.[5]
Evolution Space performed their first successful space launch passing the Kármán line on April 22, 2023 with the Gold Chain Cowboy sounding rocket.[6]
Propulsion
Evolution Space specializes in designing and manufacturing solid-propellant systems and launch vehicles for both defense and space applications.[2]
October 2022, Evolution Space performed a launch vehicle system test of their propulsion system for the Gold Chain Cowboy mission. The motor performed with 20,000 pounds of peak thrust, a maximum chamber pressure of 1,630 psi and a 15 second burn time.[7]
May 2023, Evolution Space formally includes providing solid propulsion systems along-side launch services and vehicles. The company conducted their first commercial spaceflight partnership as a propulsion provider with The Spaceport Company, as they performed test launches on their floating offshore launch platform in the Gulf of Mexico.[2] This test also marked the first commercial launch from US territorial waters.[8]
Launch
Evolution Space held its first full-scale solid-propellant rocket mission, Too Busy Chasing Stars, in November 2021, reaching a max altitude of 188,444 feet with a max velocity of Mach 3.95.[9][5]
The company conducted two sub-scale missions, No More Questions in May 2022, and Expressionless in February 2023, validating its upgraded systems and solutions.[5]
Evolution Space completed its first space mission, Gold Chain Cowboy, on April 22, 2023, reaching apogee at 408,456 feet (124.5 km) and reached a max speed of Mach 5.2.[6][10] The test launch included a payload from Uplift Aerospace of two 3D printed silver figurines, representing Venus and Mars, created by artist Chad Knight.[6] A drogue parachute anomaly was reported resulting in a higher than expected landing velocity.[6]
| Launch | Launch Date | Vehicle Type | Height (ft) | Diameter (in) | Weight (lbs) | Launch Site | Payload | Altitude | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 13, 2021 | Sounding rocket prototype | 18' | 10" | F.A.R. | 188,444 feet | [9][5] | ||
| 2 | May 22, 2022 | Sub-scale sounding rocket prototype | [5] | ||||||
| 3 | February 18, 2023 | Sub-scale sounding rocket prototype | 7' | 3" | 30 lbs | F.A.R. | 48,000 feet | [11] | |
| 4 | April 22, 2023 | Gold Chain Cowboy - Sounding rocket prototype | 22' | 10" | 900 lbs | F.A.R. | Uplift Aerospace | 408,456 feet | [6] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Werner, Debra (2022-06-10). "Xenesis signs launch pact with Evolution Space" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/xenesis-signs-launch-with-evolution-space/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Foust, Jeff (2023-05-23). "The Spaceport Company demonstrates offshore launch operations" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/the-spaceport-company-demonstrates-offshore-launch-operations/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hollenhorst, John (2019-12-13). "Payday arrives Saturday for Utah businessman's 'rocket fever'" (in en). https://www.deseret.com/utah/2019/12/12/21011430/payday-arrives-saturday-for-utah-businessmans-rocket-fever.
- ↑ "Spaceports – where should I test my rocket?" (in en-GB). 2020-10-22. https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/features/spaceports-where-should-i-test-my-rocket.html.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Patton, Tom (2023-03-24). "Gold Chain Cowboy Mission Launch Targeted for April" (in en-US). https://exterrajsc.com/gold-chain-cowboy-mission-launch-targeted-for-april/2023/03/24/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Messier, Doug (2023-04-25). "Evolution Space Launches Rocket on Suborbital Flight From Mojave Desert" (in en-US). https://parabolicarc.com/2023/04/25/suborbital-launches/.
- ↑ Patton, Tom (2022-11-08). "Evolution Space Static Fires Next Generation Space Motor" (in en-US). https://exterrajsc.com/evolution-space-static-fires-next-generation-space-motor/2022/11/08/.
- ↑ "A spaceport startup launched the 1st rocket from a floating launch pad in US waters" (in en-US). 2023-05-23. https://www.space.com/rocket-launch-us-territorial-waters-floating-pad.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "188K Flight" (in en). https://www.multitronix.com/188k-flight.html.
- ↑ "408K Flight" (in en). https://www.multitronix.com/408k-flight.html.
- ↑ Patton, Tom (2023-02-27). "Subscale Flight Test Campaign Completed by Evolution Space" (in en-US). https://exterrajsc.com/subscale-flight-test-campaign-completed-by-evolution-space/2023/02/27/.
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