# Project 624847 — Rocket Propulsion Technology

**Program element:** 1206601SF — Space Technology  
**Project:** 624847  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force  
**Appropriation:** 3620F — RDT&E, Space Force  
**Budget Activity:** 2 — Applied Research  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624847  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF

## Summary

Project 624847 — Rocket Propulsion Technology requests $25.0M in FY2027, 11% of the $234.2M requested for program element 1206601SF, down 16% on FY2026. 3 R-2A activities decompose the request.

## Funding profile

| 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 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 1206601SF; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## 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.

## Activities (R-2A) — 3

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Engine Technology Development | 11.5 | 14.2 | 14.4 | +2% | [a0](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624847/a0) |
| On-Orbit Propulsion Technology Development | 9.5 | 11.1 | 8.7 | −21% | — |
| Applied Space Access Technologies | 5.2 | 1.8 | 1.8 | −0% | — |

> Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. In the request year they partition this project exactly; in earlier years they can under-cover it.

### Rocket Engine Technology Development

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…

Full year-by-year narrative: https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624847/a0

### On-Orbit Propulsion Technology Development

**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 flight) including validation of monopropellant analysis toolset. Activities include testing monopropellant analysis tools with engine and thruster propulsion system models for use in on- orbit propulsion management systems. -Expanding exploration of advanced integrated electric propulsion and chemical thruster concepts, including thrust measurement technologies including facility upgrades for high power thrusters and thruster scaling models for chemical thrusters. Activities include facility acceptance testing of high-power thrusters and trials supporting the development of electric and chemical thrust models. Complete: -Transition and support of thruster/plume modeling framework to spacecraft industry and propulsion community including qualification of plasma codes and integrating upgrades into user manuals. Activities include verification and validation of developed codes for use in industry spacecraft propulsion systems to enable greater maneuverability.

**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 manuals - Expanding exploration of advanced integrated electric propulsion and chemical thruster concepts, including thrust measurement technologies including facility upgrades for high power thrusters and thruster scaling models for chemical thrusters

### Applied Space Access Technologies

**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 the space theater. Activities include validation of wargaming scenarios and technologies for near peer scenarios.

**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 military utility analyses and design inputs for wargaming scenarios. Complete: -Modular component integration and interaction research activities. Contested space environments require effective maneuvering enabled by next generation engine concepts and rocket engine capabilities. Activities include additive manufacturing rocket engine component demonstrations.

## What is NOT on this page

Congressional marks, the R-2 mission description and acquisition strategy, the industry vs government split of the whole request, and related program elements are recorded at **program-element** grain — an NDAA mark lands on a PE, never on a project. They are at https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 1206601SF project 624847 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1206601SF")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*