Reaction Engines Ltd., a British aerospace company known for its pioneering work on the Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE), has entered administration as of October 31, 2024. This move comes after the company was unable to secure additional funding, leading to significant layoffs among its approximately 200 employees.
The SABRE engine, designed for spaceplanes, combines air-breathing technology with traditional rocket propulsion, allowing vehicles to reach orbit without boosters. It was envisioned for use in the Skylon spaceplane, capable of transporting 17 tons to low Earth orbit. However, the project remained in the conceptual phase due to its estimated $10 billion development cost.
Despite securing modest government grants, including an $11 million award from the European Space Agency, Reaction Engines struggled to attract the necessary investment to advance its technologies. Major aerospace firms like BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce had previously invested in the company, hoping to leverage SABRE's potential for hypersonic travel.
As Reaction Engines goes through the administration process, overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the future of its innovative technologies hangs in the balance. The outcome could significantly impact the landscape of air-breathing rocket technology, which has the potential to revolutionize space access and hypersonic flight.