The clock is ticking for Bloodhound LSR
The future of the project in danger
£ 8m investment needed to secure 2021 world speed record attempt on earth
The Bloodhound Land Speed Record team announced today that there is no time left to raise the funds necessary to attempt the new world record for supersonic land speed in the 2021 weather window in Hakskeenpan, South Africa South.
The team must obtain sufficient funding commitments by the end of March 2020 in order to meet sufficient funding requirements to reform the aerospace and motorsport team of experts and complete the development of the specification car. land speed record, which includes the monopropellant rocket, electric oxidation pump (replacing the internal combustion unit of 550 hp), improvements to the fuel system, braking mechanisms and fins on the fin.
After the success of the high speed test program where the team reached a top speed of 628 mph / 1010 km / h in the Kalahari Desert, this team with the jet car and associated equipment is now back to headquarters in Gloucestershire, UK. The car was separated for cleaning, inspection and maintenance and the EJ200 jet engine was removed and returned to Rolls-Royce for storage.
Time pressure
In order to reach speeds above 800 mph, Bloodhound LSR will need an advanced rocket to operate in addition to its EJ200 jet engine. This will be provided by the Norwegian rocket specialist Nammo. As part of a research program for the European Space Agency, Nammo has designed a compact zero-emission rocket intended to be used as a launch engine to place small satellites (called “cubesats”) in space. The size and power of this rocket make it ideal for use in Bloodhound LSR.
The rocket is a “monopropellant” design that uses concentrated hydrogen peroxide (water with an additional oxygen molecule – H2O2) as a propellant. This is pumped at high pressure through silver gauze, which acts as a catalyst, which breaks it down (separates) into superheated steam (600 ° C) and oxygen. Steam and oxygen are channeled through a nozzle to generate thrust – at three times the speed of sound (Mach 3) or around 2000 mph / 3218 km / h. There is no “combustion” of fuel and therefore no flame or any chemically harmful waste generated by the rocket on each descent. Bloodhound LSR will be supplied with steam.
The rocket’s oxidant, concentrated hydrogen peroxide, should be stored at cool temperatures. Although relatively inert at temperatures around 20 ° C – typical winter temperatures of July and August in northern Cape, South Africa, it becomes volatile if the temperature exceeds 50 ° C. The team experienced 44 ° C during his visit to South Africa last October.
Ian Warhurst, CEO of Bloodhound, said: “Time is running out to increase the investment required to regroup the team and continue the rocket and other car upgrades program in time to meet our 2021 deadlines. we miss our window of cool weather in July and August, temperatures in the Kalahari will make it impossible for a rocket to function next year.
Ian continued; “An independent analysis of media coverage of Bloodhound LSR’s successful high-speed testing program concluded that the sponsors would have received a return on investment of 14: 1 (ROI). Conservative estimates of the coverage of an actual speed record attempt in 2021 are that it will be at least four times that of high-speed tests – and will likely be higher. This means that the sponsorship opportunity would yield an expected return on investment of 18: 1 and possibly much more. For the first time, we now have a valid ROI that sponsors need to invest.
“The project remains dormant while we try to secure funding but at the cost of tens of thousands per month of overhead costs, and the threat that we will miss the weather window next year, we cannot remain dormant for long.” After all that this project has done in the past year to prove its viability, it would be devastating to stop there when we are so close. We remain optimistic but we are really short on time ”
Bloodhound inspiration
The Bloodhound LSR project continues to inspire people of all ages with showcases of cutting-edge engineering and technology. The team is currently exploring opportunities to share learning with higher and higher education institutions based on the success of the engineering and operating car. The full life cycle of the project, from the original concept to the detailed design including construction, testing, international deployment and the ultimate safe operation of the car, allowed the team to put together a case study unique covering a wide range of disciplines. The educational value from primary school to university is unmatched by other projects.
The clock is ticking for Bloodhound LSR
The future of the project in danger
£ 8m investment needed to secure 2021 world speed record attempt on earth
The Bloodhound Land Speed Record team announced today that there is no time left to raise the funds necessary to attempt the new world record for supersonic land speed in the 2021 weather window in Hakskeenpan, South Africa South.
The team must obtain sufficient funding commitments by the end of March 2020 in order to meet sufficient funding requirements to reform the aerospace and motorsport team of experts and complete the development of the specification car. land speed record, which includes the monopropellant rocket, electric oxidation pump (replacing the internal combustion unit of 550 hp), improvements to the fuel system, braking mechanisms and fins on the fin.
After the success of the high speed test program where the team reached a top speed of 628 mph / 1010 km / h in the Kalahari Desert, this team with the jet car and associated equipment is now back to headquarters in Gloucestershire, UK. The car was separated for cleaning, inspection and maintenance and the EJ200 jet engine was removed and returned to Rolls-Royce for storage.
Time pressure
In order to reach speeds above 800 mph, Bloodhound LSR will need an advanced rocket to operate in addition to its EJ200 jet engine. This will be provided by the Norwegian rocket specialist Nammo. As part of a research program for the European Space Agency, Nammo has designed a compact zero-emission rocket intended to be used as a launch engine to place small satellites (called “cubesats”) in space. The size and power of this rocket make it ideal for use in Bloodhound LSR.
The rocket is a “monopropellant” design that uses concentrated hydrogen peroxide (water with an additional oxygen molecule – H2O2) as a propellant. This is pumped at high pressure through silver gauze, which acts as a catalyst, which breaks it down (separates) into superheated steam (600 ° C) and oxygen. Steam and oxygen are channeled through a nozzle to generate thrust – at three times the speed of sound (Mach 3) or around 2000 mph / 3218 km / h. There is no “combustion” of fuel and therefore no flame or any chemically harmful waste generated by the rocket on each descent. Bloodhound LSR will be supplied with steam.
The rocket’s oxidant, concentrated hydrogen peroxide, should be stored at cool temperatures. Although relatively inert at temperatures around 20 ° C – typical winter temperatures of July and August in northern Cape, South Africa, it becomes volatile if the temperature exceeds 50 ° C. The team experienced 44 ° C during his visit to South Africa last October.
Ian Warhurst, CEO of Bloodhound, said: “Time is running out to increase the investment required to regroup the team and continue the rocket and other car upgrades program in time to meet our 2021 deadlines. we miss our window of cool weather in July and August, temperatures in the Kalahari will make it impossible for a rocket to function next year.
Ian continued; “An independent analysis of media coverage of Bloodhound LSR’s successful high-speed testing program concluded that the sponsors would have received a return on investment of 14: 1 (ROI). Conservative estimates of the coverage of an actual speed record attempt in 2021 are that it will be at least four times that of high-speed tests – and will likely be higher. This means that the sponsorship opportunity would yield an expected return on investment of 18: 1 and possibly much more. For the first time, we now have a valid ROI that sponsors need to invest.
“The project remains dormant while we try to secure funding but at the cost of tens of thousands per month of overhead costs, and the threat that we will miss the weather window next year, we cannot remain dormant for long.” After all that this project has done in the past year to prove its viability, it would be devastating to stop there when we are so close. We remain optimistic but we are really short on time ”
Bloodhound inspiration
The Bloodhound LSR project continues to inspire people of all ages with showcases of cutting-edge engineering and technology. The team is currently exploring opportunities to share learning with higher and higher education institutions based on the success of the engineering and operating car. The full life cycle of the project, from the original concept to the detailed design including construction, testing, international deployment and the ultimate safe operation of the car, allowed the team to put together a case study unique covering a wide range of disciplines. The educational value from primary school to university is unmatched by other projects.
