LEAP 71 and Aspire Space partner to develop engines for reusable Oryx spacecraft
Aspire Space Ltd, the UAE-based subsidiary of Aspire Space Technologies SA, has signed a formal agreement with LEAP 71, also of the UAE, to collaborate on the development of the Oryx reusable spacecraft.
Oryx is an orbital-class launch vehicle designed to deliver up to 15 tons of cargo to low Earth orbit (3 tons in fully reusable mode). Both its booster and upper stage are engineered for rapid reusability, returning to Earth after each mission for quick turnaround and relaunch.
Building on their ongoing cooperation, this contract will see LEAP 71 developing the rocket engines powering the Oryx’s second stage. Each engine will produce 20 tons (200 kN) of thrust, and the partners are pursuing two parallel propulsion paths: a conventional engine and an aerospike configuration.
The aerospike concept is said to offer superior efficiency across both atmospheric and vacuum flight regimes, making it particularly well-suited for reusable launch systems. LEAP 71 gained recognition in December 2024 for successfully testing a 5 kN aerospike engine and validating key aspects of its design.
Both Aspire Space and LEAP 71 are members in the UAE Space Agency’s Space Economic Zones Program, an integrated programme designed to foster innovation, investment, and commercial growth across the space sector. Through this, the two companies are contributing to the UAE’s goal of building a globally competitive and sustainable space economy.
This collaboration is expected to mark a major step toward establishing a sovereign UAE orbital launch capability, powered by domestically-developed propulsion technologies.
