Europe is joining the race for hypersonic spaceplanes, with the European Space Agency (ESA) financing the Invictus project, aiming to create a reusable hypersonic spaceplane by 2031, Space.com reported on July 17.\nThe development is led by a consortium headed by Frazer-Nash, with participation from Spirit AeroSystems, Cranfield University, and other partners.\nInvictus builds on technologies from the UK-based Reaction Engines, which previously worked on the Skylon spaceplane. Despite Reaction Engines’ bankruptcy, its key innovation—a \"pre-cooler\" that chills air before it enters the engine—forms the foundation of the new project. This system enables jet engines to operate at hypersonic speeds exceeding 6,000 km/h, over five times the speed of sound.\nThe Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) engine combines jet and rocket propulsion, capturing atmospheric oxygen at lower altitudes to save fuel and boost efficiency.\nDespite a modest budget of approximately 8.7 million euros ($10.1 million), Invictus could be a breakthrough for Europe’s aerospace industry. Tommaso Ghidini, head of ESA’s mechanical department, stated that hypersonic flight opens a new era for mobility, defense, and space access.\nThe Invictus spaceplane is designed to take off from a runway like a conventional aircraft and then ascend to orbit like a rocket. Over the next 12 months, the team will present a concept and preliminary design elements.\nEurope is not alone in pursuing next-generation spaceplanes: France is developing the VORTEX project by Dassault Aviation, while the United States operates the X-37B, China has the Shenlong spacecraft, and Virgin Galactic advances suborbital tourism.\nInvictus represents a step toward revolutionizing transportation on Earth and beyond.

Europe’s Invictus spaceplane targets 2031 launch

The European Space Agency (ESA) is funding the Invictus spaceplane project, a hypersonic reusable spaceplane aiming to launch by 2031. The project, led by Frazer-Nash, incorporates technology from defunct UK-based Reaction Engines, including the pre-cooler system, and features the SABRE engine for jet-rocket hybrid propulsion. The project has a modest budget of 8.7 million euros and aims to advance Europe’s aerospace capabilities, with other global spaceplane initiatives like France’s VORTEX, the US’s X-37B, China’s Shenlong, and Virgin Galactic also in development.