Ursa Major Technologies

Ursa Major Technologies is an American aerospace company founded in 2015 and based in Berthoud, Colorado. The company produces rocket engines and sells them to space launch and hypersonics companies, and the U.S. Government.

Ursa Major Technologies, Inc.
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryAerospace
Founded2015
FounderJoe Laurienti
Headquarters
Berthoud, Colorado
Number of employees
270 (2023)
Websitehttps://ursamajor.com

The company makes a 5,000-pound thrust liquid oxygen and kerosene Hadley engine, named after a character in Ray Bradbury's The Veldt.[1] It also develops the Ripley engine, with 50,000 pounds of thrust, aimed at the medium-launch market.[2]

Its commercial customers include C6 Launch Systems, a Canadian small satellite launcher, and U.S. launch startup Phantom Space.[3] It also works with Generation Orbit Launch Services and with Stratolaunch.[4]

In 2017, Ursa Major raised $8 million last with participation from the Space Angels Network.[5]

In December 2021 the company closed its largest funding round to date: an $85 million Series C led by funds and accounts managed by BlackRock.[6]

In April 2023 the company had about 270 employees.[7] The company announced that it would supply the upper stage engine for Astra Space’s in-development Rocket 4.[8]

As of 2024 its Draper prototype engine demonstrated stability similar to solid fuels, along with the active throttle control and throttle range of a liquid engine.[9]

Engines
EngineStatusThrust at sea level, lbfPropellantTechnologyReusableMaximum gimbal angleIntended use
Hadley[10]Initial production5 000Liquid oxygen/keroseneOxygen-rich staged combustionYes±7°Low Earth orbit,
geostationary orbit, in-Space,
hypersonics
Ripley[10]In development50 000Liquid oxygen/keroseneOxygen-rich staged combustionYes±5°Low Earth orbit,
geostationary orbit
Arroway[10]In development200 000Liquid oxygen/methaneFull flow staged combustion[11]Yes±5°Medium and heavy boost
Draper[10]In development4 000Hydrogen peroxide/keroseneClosed catalyst cycleYes Hypersonics,
defense

See also

References
  1. "Rocket engine startup sees opportunities in crowded launch market". SpaceNews. May 3, 2021.
  2. "Ursa Major says its Hadley engine supports vertical launch and hypersonic uses". 23 March 2022.
  3. "Former Air Force procurement chief Will Roper joins board of space startup Ursa Major". SpaceNews. April 28, 2021.
  4. "Stratolaunch plane flies again as company prepares for hypersonic tests". SpaceNews. January 17, 2022.
  5. "Ursa Major Technologies wants outsourcing engines to be the norm". SpaceNews. September 9, 2018.
  6. "Ursa Major raises $85M to disrupt the vertically integrated launch sector".
  7. "Ursa Major purchases 90-acre property in Berthoud, ramps up hiring and production". January 14, 2022.
  8. Alamalhodaei, Aria (2023-04-25). "Ursa Major to provide engines for the upper stage of Astra's new rocket". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  9. Szondy, David (2024-06-04). "Radical hypersonic engine blasts hotfire tests". New Atlas. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  10. "Ursa Major engines". September 8, 2022.
  11. "Inside Ursa Major's State-Of-The-Art Rocket Engine Factory!". YouTube. September 28, 2023.
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