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Propulsion & Power

Canadian rocket developer switches to liquid propulsion after 50 tests

By SpaceEnergy 08 October 2026 1 min read

(SpaceEnergy) Canadian rocket developer Reaction Dynamics has completed 50 tests under its new liquid-propulsion programme and abandoned its hybrid-engine architecture, changing the development path for its Aurora and Borealis launch vehicles.

The company announced the transition on 8 October, saying it would concentrate its propulsion engineering on liquid engines using storable propellants.

A recent campaign included 21 hot-fire tests covering two engine variants, several injector configurations and ignition and shutdown sequences.

Reaction Dynamics said the final firings achieved characteristic-velocity efficiency exceeding 95%, with favourable thermal margins.

The change is expected to increase Aurora's payload capacity and allow the smaller launcher to serve as a technology qualification platform for Borealis, a planned medium-lift rocket.

Reaction Dynamics has consequently cancelled its Aurora-1 suborbital demonstration flight in Australia, which was intended to validate the company's earlier hybrid propulsion system.

The Aurora-1 programme completed more than 350 engine firings and a ground qualification campaign.

Instead, the company plans to conduct full-duration ground testing of its new RE-X orbital-class liquid engine and assembled rocket stages before attempting orbital flight.

Manufacturing of RE-X is under way, with initial hot-fire testing scheduled for November 2026. The first campaign will target a short-duration firing with the engine integrated into its propellant feed system.

Reaction Dynamics continues to target its first orbital launch from Canada in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The company said storable liquid propellants could simplify launch operations and support responsive launches from remote locations, including Canada's Arctic.

The completed tests establish an initial development milestone for the revised propulsion architecture. Orbital-scale engine qualification and flight validation remain outstanding.

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