project iris
Juno to fly RDE on-orbit in world first
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Juno to fly RDE on-orbit in world first 🚀
The mission.
Never before has an RDE been designed to fly on orbit, let alone been demonstrated in space. The first step is to design, assemble, and rigorously test the Project Iris payload on the ground.
Step 1. Build the first ever space RDE.
Project Iris will be riding as a payload on the Momentus Vigoride 8 vehicle. We will launch on a rideshare mission and be deposited into low earth orbit for multiple months.
Step 2. launch and fly in low earth orbit.
We have three major goals: (a) boot up and show system operability, (b) perform multiple short-duration pulses to measure minimum impulse bit over duty cycle, (c) demonstrate a long-duration high delta-V burn.
Step 3. demonstrate high isp maneuvers.
The namesake.
Iris is Goddess of the Rainbow and personal messenger of the Queen Goddess Juno.
Project Iris is the herald for Juno Propulsion, serving as our first demonstration mission and true test of Juno’s rotating detonation engine technology in space.
Learn more.
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Juno Press release
Juno Propulsion Awarded NASA TechLeap Prize to Fly First-Ever Rotating Detonation Engine in Orbit
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Momentus News Release
Momentus Awarded Contract from NASA to Test Groundbreaking Thruster In Space
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Activate Featured Fellow
Moments that Matter: Juno Propulsion’s Technology Is Headed to Space
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Payload Space Article
Rotating Detonation Engine Startup Wins NASA TechLeap Prize
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nasa announcement
NASA TechLeap Prize Announces Ten Winners of Space Technology Payload Challenge
