I've kept a pretty low (online) profile of what I'm building, but word's getting out.
My company Astro Mechanica has invented a new kind of jet engine. Unlike any existing engine, it's efficient at every speed. Because it's efficient at every speed, we can use it in a new way: as the first stage of an orbital launch vehicle.
The resulting platform will get payloads to orbit dramatically cheaper than all-rocket systems - among many possible applications.
The key insight is to use electric motors to drive a compressor. That way we can make it spin at any speed, allowing it to "adapt" to it's airspeed and combustion cycle.
One of the coolest parts: the video below is of a demonstrator my team and I built last year. We already have a new engine with 10x the thrust that will be complete next month.
My company Astro Mechanica has invented a new kind of jet engine. Unlike any existing engine, it's efficient at every speed. Because it's efficient at every speed, we can use it in a new way: as the first stage of an orbital launch vehicle.
The resulting platform will get payloads to orbit dramatically cheaper than all-rocket systems - among many possible applications.
The key insight is to use electric motors to drive a compressor. That way we can make it spin at any speed, allowing it to "adapt" to it's airspeed and combustion cycle.
One of the coolest parts: the video below is of a demonstrator my team and I built last year. We already have a new engine with 10x the thrust that will be complete next month.
To give a sneak preview of that next engine, here's the work going on today as we machine a compressor section.
It's fitting our machinist has a Spirit of California shirt on today. This all happening in San Francisco (I'm born and raised in the bay).
It's fitting our machinist has a Spirit of California shirt on today. This all happening in San Francisco (I'm born and raised in the bay).
It's truly something special to be building this company. My team is incredible, my investors excellent, and the friend and founder community around me has opened every door imaginable. There's too many to thank. I remember every one of you that's helped along the way, no matter how small.
@orbuch/@aluckymoron for betting on me with the first institutional capital. @KTmBoyle/@rmcentush/@a16z helping us go bigger and better. The founder in my YC batch who pushed me to talk to a swarmed @paulg. @arram and @devonzuegel for introducing me to seemingly everyone. @elidourado and @eshear for just being my favorite people. It could go on!
@orbuch/@aluckymoron for betting on me with the first institutional capital. @KTmBoyle/@rmcentush/@a16z helping us go bigger and better. The founder in my YC batch who pushed me to talk to a swarmed @paulg. @arram and @devonzuegel for introducing me to seemingly everyone. @elidourado and @eshear for just being my favorite people. It could go on!
If you want more details on how this all works, my friend
@Andercot has written an excellent thread.
@Andercot has written an excellent thread.
https://twitter.com/Andercot/status/1763063321857757210
And for the really deep dive, I joined my friend
@pronounced_kyle on his podcast to fully explain the whole system.
@pronounced_kyle on his podcast to fully explain the whole system.
https://x.com/pronounced_kyle/status/1762945945120149955?s=20
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