What project 624847 buys
This project develops and demonstrates rocket and alternate concepts space and strategic propulsion technologies for space access and space maneuver. Analytical and experimental areas of emphasis are propellants, propellant management, combustion, rocket material applications, and innovative space access and in space propulsion concepts. Technologies of interest will improve reliability, performance, survivability, affordability, and environmental compatibility of these systems. Develop technologies to reduce the weight and cost of components using new materials and improved designs and manufacturing techniques. All efforts in this project contribute to the sustainment and growth of the space, and rocket propulsion industry, providing space access and in space propulsion technology for the entire Department of War (DoW). Technologies under this project enable capabilities of interest to DoW, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and growing Space community. Tasks include proof of concept tests of critical components; advanced component development; and ground-based tests. This project develops next generation of physics-based modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) tools for rapid and agile space access and in-space propulsion design, analysis, and production, as well as the digital engineering concepts to manage the entire process of design, test, and validation of space access and in-space systems. This project also secures National Unique Testing Assets, providing unmatched capabilities that underpin technological leadership and ensure the safety and security of our nation. All thrusts are reviewed by a DoW level steering committee yearly for relevance to DoW missions, and the associated support costs.
Project 624847 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 26.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 29.6 |
| FY2027 | Request | 25.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 26.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 25.9 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 26.7 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 27.2 |
3 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit — the only level of the budget that describes work that has not happened yet. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only, no five-year plan. 1 of them describes FY2027 work in enough detail to have its own page; the rest are shown here in full. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
Continue: -Employment of new fuel and material operating limitations, manufacturing processes, and launch goals including remote launch site analyses and launch pad material measurements. Activities include development of austere launch concepts of operation including validation of fuel/material launch pad interactions factors and…
Read the FY2027 plan →FY2027 planned work Continue: -Advanced chemical propellants development focusing on molecular propellants for electric propulsion including thermal management demonstrations and catalyst life cycle studies. Activities include integration of thermal management systems and catalyst into electric propulsion systems. -Support the maturation of advanced diagnostics for both chemical and electric propulsion thruster plumes including validation of erosion models and finalizing plume chemical composition. Activities include verification and validation of models using flight data and integration into prototype software and modeling tools -To expand the validation and verification programs (both experimental and…
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $2.344 million due to completion of digital tools for modeling rocket propulsion systems which are being transitioned for use in demonstrations and higher TRL applications.
FY2026 plans — current year Continue: - Advanced chemical propellants development focusing on molecular propellants for electric propulsion including thermal management demonstrations and catalyst life cycle studies - Support the maturation of advanced diagnostics for both chemical and electric propulsion thruster plumes including validation of erosion models and finalizing plume chemical composition - Expand the validation and verification programs (both experimental and flight) including validation of monopropellant analysis toolset - Transition and support of thruster/plume modeling framework to spacecraft industry to propulsion community including qualification of plasma codes and integrating upgrades into user…
FY2027 planned work Continue: -Sub-scale risk mitigation and technology maturation activities to incorporate into next generation engine concepts. Contested space environments require effective maneuvering enabled by rapid maturation of new rocket engine technologies to support and defend our space assets. Activities include optimizing combustion model technologies for integration into digital twins of rocket engine combustion environments. -Development of technologies and processes supporting modeling and analysis for rapid launch capabilities. Contested space environments require effective maneuvering enabled by greater launch flexibility to reconstitute our space fleet and/or respond faster to combatants in…
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $0.004M million due to minor programmatic adjustments to the DAF Science and Technology portfolio.
FY2026 plans — current year Continue: - Sub-scale risk mitigation and technology maturation activities to incorporate into next generation engine concepts. Contested space environments require effective maneuvering enabled by rapid maturation of new rocket engine technologies to support and defend our space assets. Activities include combustion modeling studies and digital twin of rocket engine combustion environments. - Technologies and processes supporting modeling and analysis for rapid launch capabilities. Contested space environments require effective maneuvering enabled by greater launch flexibility to reconstitute our space fleet and/or respond faster to combatants in the space theater. Activities include…