Launcher
Company Information
What Is Launcher?
Launcher is an aerospace technology company specializing in the development of liquid rocket engines for small satellite launch vehicles. Acquired by Vast in February 2023, the company focuses on its E-2 liquid rocket engine, which uses liquid oxygen and kerosene in an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle. Launcher previously developed orbital transfer vehicles and a small launch vehicle concept, but its current activities concentrate on rocket propulsion technology for launch vehicle manufacturers.
What Does Launcher Do?
Launcher designs, manufactures, and tests liquid rocket propulsion systems intended for integration into small orbital launch vehicles. Its principal product is the E-2 engine, which combines liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants with an oxidizer-rich staged combustion architecture.
The company develops rocket combustion chambers, turbomachinery, propulsion components, and engine control systems. Its engineering activities include manufacturing engine hardware, conducting ground tests, and evaluating propulsion performance under different operating conditions.
Launcher uses metal additive manufacturing to produce complex rocket engine components, including combustion hardware that would otherwise require multiple manufacturing and assembly processes.
Following its acquisition by Vast, Launcher discontinued development of its own orbital launch vehicle and concentrated on making the E-2 engine available to other launch vehicle companies. Its earlier Orbiter spacecraft program contributed engineering experience in spacecraft systems, orbital transportation, and payload integration.
Launcher Technology
Launcher develops high-performance liquid rocket propulsion technology centered on the E-2 engine. The engine uses liquid oxygen and kerosene in an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle, a propulsion architecture that routes oxygen-rich gas through a turbine before completing combustion in the main chamber.
Unlike gas-generator engines, which discard some propellant after powering the turbomachinery, staged combustion engines use turbine exhaust within the main combustion process. This configuration can improve propellant efficiency, although it requires engineering solutions for high-pressure operation, thermal management, and oxygen-rich material compatibility.
The E-2 program incorporates additively manufactured combustion hardware, including large metal components with integrated cooling passages. These passages circulate propellant around high-temperature areas of the combustion chamber to help protect the engine structure during operation.
Launcher also develops turbopumps, propellant feed systems, valves, engine controls, and thrust vector control hardware. These systems regulate propellant delivery, combustion conditions, and engine orientation during flight.
Its engineering program includes ground testing to evaluate combustion stability, engine endurance, startup and shutdown behavior, and performance across operating conditions. The company has published extended-duration E-2 firing tests as part of its propulsion development work.
Launcher previously applied its spacecraft engineering capabilities to the Orbiter orbital transfer vehicle, which incorporated avionics, propulsion, guidance, navigation, and control systems. Orbiter was designed to carry and deploy small satellite payloads after launch aboard third-party rockets.
Why Launcher Matters
Developing a liquid rocket engine requires specialized expertise in combustion, turbomachinery, manufacturing, and testing. Launcher addresses this technical requirement by developing an oxidizer-rich staged combustion engine intended for smaller orbital launch vehicles.
The E-2 engine could provide launch vehicle manufacturers with an alternative to designing every propulsion component internally. Its use of additive manufacturing also demonstrates how complex combustion hardware can be produced with fewer separate components.
Launcher contributes to the development of commercial rocket propulsion technology through its focus on engine efficiency, manufacturing methods, and ground-test validation. Its acquisition by Vast also illustrates how propulsion and spacecraft engineering capabilities can be integrated into a larger aerospace organization.
Launcher Products & Platforms
E-2 Liquid Rocket Engine
E-2 is Launcher’s principal rocket propulsion product. The engine uses liquid oxygen and kerosene with an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle and is being developed for small orbital launch vehicles. Its design incorporates additively manufactured combustion hardware, turbomachinery, and propulsion control systems. Launcher markets E-2 to launch vehicle manufacturers seeking a liquid rocket engine for their spacecraft transportation systems.
Orbiter — Historical Spacecraft Program
Orbiter was an orbital transfer vehicle and hosted payload platform developed to transport, accommodate, and deploy small satellites after launch aboard third-party rockets. The spacecraft incorporated onboard propulsion, avionics, flight software, and payload deployment systems. The program became part of Vast following its acquisition of Launcher in 2023. Orbiter should be considered a historical Launcher platform rather than a currently advertised standalone Launcher product.
Launcher Light — Discontinued Launch Vehicle
Launcher Light was a proposed small orbital rocket intended to use Launcher’s propulsion technology to deliver satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch vehicle program was discontinued following the acquisition by Vast, allowing the company to concentrate on E-2 engine development and external engine sales.
Launcher Applications
Launcher’s primary application is rocket propulsion for small satellite launch vehicles. Its E-2 engine is designed for manufacturers developing orbital transportation systems that require high-performance liquid propulsion.
The company’s propulsion engineering also supports research into staged combustion cycles, high-temperature combustion chambers, turbomachinery, and additive manufacturing techniques for aerospace hardware.
Historically, Launcher’s Orbiter spacecraft supported applications in satellite deployment and in-space transportation, including hosted payload missions and orbital transfer services. These activities contributed spacecraft engineering capabilities that became part of Vast after the acquisition.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Launcher still an independent company?
No. Launcher was acquired by Vast in February 2023. It now operates as part of Vast, with its publicly stated activities focused on developing the E-2 liquid rocket engine for launch vehicle manufacturers.
What propellants does Launcher’s E-2 engine use?
The E-2 engine uses liquid oxygen and kerosene in an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle. This architecture is designed to improve propellant utilization by routing turbine exhaust into the main combustion chamber.
Does Launcher manufacture its own orbital rockets?
Launcher previously developed a small orbital rocket called Launcher Light. The program was discontinued following its acquisition by Vast in 2023. The company’s current focus is developing rocket engines for other launch vehicle manufacturers.
What happened to Launcher’s Orbiter spacecraft?
Orbiter was an orbital transfer vehicle and hosted payload platform developed by Launcher. The program became part of Vast following the acquisition in 2023. Launcher no longer lists Orbiter as its primary commercial product, and its current website focuses on the E-2 engine.
Does Launcher use 3D printing to manufacture rocket engines?
Yes. Launcher has used metal additive manufacturing to produce complex rocket engine components, including combustion hardware with integrated cooling channels. This manufacturing approach reduces the need to assemble certain components from multiple separate parts.
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