Aevum, an Alabama-based aerospace startup, has unveiled a big autonomous drone that it aims to use to deliver satellites into space. The unveiling of the new drone comes after Aevum had secured contracts for 20 satellite missions from the US government that could be worth up to $986 million if fulfilled.

Aevum’s drone, named Ravn X is 80 ft. long, has a 60 ft. wingspan, is 18 ft. tall, and has a gross takeoff weight of 55,000 lbs. Aevum says it’ll be 70% reusable out of the gate and will be up to 95% reusable ‘in the near future’. The company says Ravn X uses the same jet fuel as a normal airplane and will be able to launch from any 1-mile runway.

The design of the newly-unveiled drone was five years in the making, wherein Aevum worked from its headquarters in the state of Alabama to come up with the concept.

Aevum is working to fulfill its first mission next year for the United States Space Force, wherein it’s picked up an initial $4.9 million satellite launch contract for the force. To perform a launch, the Ravn X is designed to drop a rocket in midair and shoot small satellites into orbit from there.

Aevum was founded by Jay Skylus, a long-time engineer who has had stints at firms including NASA and Boeing. Skylus also founded a previous aerospace startup named Conspire Technology that worked on designs for space launch vehicles.

Skylus poses with the Ravn X drone.

Now, Skylus is looking to make a dent in the aerospace industry with an unmanned drone to launch satellites into space from his new company, Aevum. Being still a concept, there’s no guarantee that Aevum’ newly-unveiled drone will make it to production and launch satellites as planned but it’s definitely something to watch for.

Photo(s) credit: Aevum

Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin

Whatsapp

Email

Print