For decades, an engine concept known as aerospike has been an elusive rival to the traditional bell-nozzle rocket. Although capable of delivering higher payloads while decreasing overall rocket weight ...

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story: The aerospike engine—which uses air pressure to shape the downward force needed to launch a spacecraft—has been on the cusp of entering mainstream ...

Since the 1950s rocket engineers have toyed with the idea of a novel engine design that could –- in theory –- revolutionize the way we conceive of space travel. The aerospike might sound like a ...

Rockets have gone mostly unchanged since their introduction in the 20th century. From Apollo 11 in 1969 to the SpaceX Falcon Heavy missions, which began in 2018, both were propelled by rockets with ...