Aircraft

The European Union's European Space Agency-managed €7 million ($10.8 million) Long Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies (LAPCAT) hypersonic research project, now extended with a second phase, has already produced short-term spin-out benefits.

Mathematical tools developed under LAPCAT could be used by EADS Astrium for its methane rocket engine that would power its proposed suborbital tourism space jet, according to the hypersonic research project's manager Johan Steelant.

LAPCAT's goal was to identify and assess critical propulsion technologies that could enable rapid long-haul flights such as Brussels to Sydney, Australia in 2-4h and develop the scientific and engineering tools for that task.

However, one of its critical propulsion technologies could see a much earlier deployment because the EU's Environmentally Friendly Aero Engine (Vital) project, which is looking at new engine cycles for noise and emission reductions in the next decade, is interested in helium pre-coolers and contra-rotating turbines - both of which have been studied under LAPCAT.

"Our heat exchanger could be applied to classical turbojets. The EU project Vital is looking at new engine cycles that incorporate heat exchangers," says Steelant.

LAPCAT ended in April after its three-year duration came to an end, and its final report has been submitted to the EC. A four-year, euro10 million LAPCAT II follow-on study will begin in October. LAPCAT II will analyse the first project's hydrogen-fuelled Mach 5 and M8 transport concepts in more detail.