Andrew Duggleby

CTO / cofounder Venus Aerospace

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

RDRE is a generational shift in propulsion. @VenusAerospace is leading the way!

[Jordan Taylor @Jordan_W_Taylor]

Rotating detonation engines: Riding the shockwave!

A technology that could revolutionise aviation, powering engines with endlessly rotating supersonic shockwaves. It could bring us hypersonic flight, super high efficiency and more.

The detonation engine thread…

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

More videos of RDRE flight!

[Venus Aerospace @VenusAerospace]

Houston, We Have Detonation

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Historic! Detonation flight complete. RDRE flight was perfect - first of its kind. Well done @VenusAerospace team!

7 seconds at high acceleration off a rail at @Spaceport_NM in New Mexico. #Detonation #RDRE

https://t.co/LRWzAII9fa

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Hold down hotfire complete. Next stop flight! #RDRE #Detonation

[Venus Aerospace @VenusAerospace]

Hot fire complete. Next stop: flight.

Venus Aerospace is gearing up for the first high-thrust, in-atmosphere RDRE demonstration. Stay tuned—history is in the making.

[Venus Aerospace @VenusAerospace]

Hot fire complete. Next stop: flight.

Venus Aerospace is gearing up for the first high-thrust, in-atmosphere RDRE demonstration. Stay tuned—history is in the making.

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Vehicle complete and checkouts done. Next is a hold down test here at Spaceport Houston! #RDRE #Detonation @VenusAerospace

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Vehicle almost complete! #RDRE #Detonation

[Venus Aerospace @VenusAerospace]

The finishing touches before history is made.

With mechanical work wrapping up on our RDRE demonstrator, leak checks and harnessing are next before one final test fire at Ellington. After that? We prove that America’s first flight-ready RDRE doesn’t just light—it flies.

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Venus wins grant from TSC! LFG!

[Venus Aerospace @VenusAerospace]

As we prepare for a milestone year, we’re proud to be among the SEARF grant recipients announced by the Texas Space Commission.

This support strengthens long-term innovation in hypersonic propulsion.

Full announcement in the comments.

[Venus Aerospace @VenusAerospace]

As we prepare for a milestone year, we’re proud to be among the SEARF grant recipients announced by the Texas Space Commission.

This support strengthens long-term innovation in hypersonic propulsion.

Full announcement in the comments.

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

RDRE is game-changing. Great working with NASA on this. Flight soon!

[Venus Aerospace @VenusAerospace]

We’re integrating a high-performance nozzle—developed in partnership with @NASA through its SBIR program—into our RDRE system, combining their support with our in-house breakthroughs.
This summer, we fly.
Press release in comments.

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Electrical systems being wired for the RDRE demo launch. This is both for command and control, as well as data and telemetry. #RDRE #Detonation @VenusAerospace

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Integration under way for the RDRE demo flight. Primary structures and tanks in place. #RDRE #Detonation @VenusAerospace

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

@__aaron Yes, this one is a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer). We have our other engine where we combine the RDRE with a ramjet in a rocket-based combined cycle. Hope to get that one in flight soon as well!

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Hydrogen Peroxide is on its way to Spaceport America for the RDRE demonstration flight! The stuff you have in your bathroom is 3% peroxide / 97% water, this is 90% peroxide, 10% water. It is a great room-temperature storable oxidizer, perfect for aviation & hypersonics. Our fuel is JetA. @VenusAerospace #RDRE #Detonation

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

RDRE fluid manifold block installed into the back of the thrust chamber for the RDRE demo flight. @VenusAerospace #RDRE #Detonation

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Fuel COPV (left) Helium COPV (middle) and HTP tank (right) mounted on their attachment brackets, and their manifolds all assembled and leaked checked for the RDRE demo flight. @VenusAerospace #RDRE #Detonation

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Ground support equipment skid almost done. This is how we will load/unload hydrogen peroxide and jet fuel into the RDRE demo vehicle. @VenusAerospace #RDRE #detonation

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

RDRE demo flight skin here! This is an aluminum tube where we machined both the inner and outer side to get the right thickness and concentricity. Also machine access ports for GSE. Enough parts to start doing final integration! @VenusAerospace #RDRE #Detonation

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

@IntrinsicMayan @VenusAerospace Aluminum

[Andrew Duggleby @aduggleby]

Fin cans arrived! This primary structure at the aft end of the RDRE demo flight vehicle will hold the fins (aerodynamic stabilization) and engine thrust structure. Because of those loads it is a little beefier than the rest of the vehicle OML. @VenusAerospace #RDRE #Detonation