Runway-Launched Mach 6 Hypersonic Engine Makes Debut
Venus Aerospace has unveiled a breakthrough in high-speed flight with a hypersonic engine designed to take off from a conventional runway and accelerate to Mach 6. The Houston-based startup validated its rotating detonation rocket engine during a May 27, 2025 flight at Spaceport America in New Mexico, marking the first real-world demonstration of technology long confined to theory and lab testing.
Rotating detonation uses self-sustaining shockwaves inside the combustion chamber to generate higher pressure and stronger thrust in a compact package. Venus CEO Sassie Duggleby called the test “the payoff for five years of focused work,” noting that flight trials expose heat, turbulence, and vibration far beyond what bench tests can replicate. Passing those conditions proves the engine’s structure, pumps, and controls can survive the stress as well as deliver raw thrust.
The company pairs the rotating-detonation core with its VDR2 detonation ramjet for sustained cruise. This staged system transitions from takeoff power to hypersonic mode at altitude, eliminating the need for auxiliary boosters. Fewer parts reduce failure points, simplify maintenance, and cut turnaround times.
At Mach 6—around 7,350 km/h—the technology could slash long-haul travel times and enable new defense missions. Venus’s reusable Stargazer M4 aims for Mach 4 civilian flights first, potentially reducing Los Angeles–Tokyo travel from 11 hours to under two. Defense planners see rapid-response opportunities without heavy ground infrastructure.
By successfully demonstrating controlled detonation in flight, Venus Aerospace marks a pivotal step for hypersonic propulsion, shifting it from ambitious theory to viable, scalable technology. Its Venus Detonation Ramjet (VDR) combines the company’s RDRE with air-breathing ramjet architecture, enabling seamless power from takeoff through hypersonic cruise in a single integrated system.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, motherfriendly.org, Venus Aerospace