Venus opens Houston test stand for rotating detonation engines

(SpaceEnergy) Venus Aerospace has opened a new propulsion test stand at Houston Spaceport to expand higher-thrust, longer-duration testing of its rotating detonation rocket engine technology.

The Texas Space Commission-supported facility increases the company’s ability to replicate mission conditions while adding capacity for development of integrated propulsion systems intended for defence and space applications.

Guests attending the opening observed a live hot-fire test of a Venus rotating detonation rocket engine on the new stand. Venus said the facility was completed on time and within budget using support from the Texas Space Commission’s Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund.

Rotating detonation rocket engines use continuously propagating detonation waves rather than conventional deflagration combustion. Venus is developing the technology to increase propulsion efficiency, range and scalability, including for space missions. The added test infrastructure is therefore relevant to space propulsion because it enables longer-duration and higher-thrust ground validation as the company moves its RDRE technology towards integrated customer propulsion systems.

“Building and testing propulsion systems at this pace requires the right infrastructure around the technology,” chief executive and co-founder Sassie Duggleby said.

Venus previously flight-tested a high-thrust RDRE in May 2025 and said continued ground testing is now aimed at advancing the technology towards customer use.