Development study on ATREX engine for future spaceplane

An expander cycle air turbo ramjet engine called ATREX has been engaged in the Institute of Space and Astronautical science as a candidate for the propulsion system of the fly back booster of the TSTO spaceplane. The ATREX with an air-cooling system has the advantage of effective thrust and specific impulse over the wide flight range from liftoff to Mach 6 at an altitude of 30 km. The firing test results of ATREX engine installed the precooler and the regenerativly cooled combustion chamber at SLS condition are presented here. Structual reliablity and heat exchange performances on both of these components were confirmed. The engine thurust and specific impulse were improved by air precooing.