Interorbital Systems to Develop Rocket Engine for Australia’s World Land Speed Record Car, Aussie Invader 5R

Aussie Invader 5R

PERTH, Australia (Aussie Invader/Interorbital PR) — Interorbital Systems, based at the Mojave Air and Space Port in the High Desert of California, has been chosen by Australia’s world land speed record team to develop, test, and integrate a 62,000-lb-thrust (275,790 Newton) rocket engine into the Aussie Invader 5R.

The Aussie Invader 5R requires an engine that can produce 200,000hp to push the 9 tonne, 52ft (16m) monster rocket-car through the sound barrier and on to a 1,000 mph land speed record-breaking event, set for 2020.

“The Interorbital team is thrilled to be part of this exciting endeavor— reaching 1,000 miles per hours on land! It’s the kind of challenge we love and we’re ready to apply our engine technology to rocket the Aussie Invader team to break a new land speed record,” said Roderick Milliron, IOS’ Chief Designer and CTO.

Established in 1995, Interorbital Systems is a rocket engine, satellite, and spacelaunch vehicle manufacturer developing orbital and interplanetary launchers. They have been chosen for their expertise in designing the rocket engine needed to produce the extreme level of power required to achieve the high-speed goals of the Aussie Invader 5R project.

Interorbital Systems will work with the team to design the liquid, bi-propellant rocket engine that burns a set of storable, high-density, mean-but-green propellants that they use in their own rockets.

Rosco McGlashan OAM, the driver of Aussie Invader 5R, who also holds Australia’s land speed record said “We are really looking forward to working with California-based Interorbital Systems who are pioneering developments in a clean/green hypergolic propellant mix”.

“We love the collaboration aspect of an Aussie engineered car, being powered by an American rocket engine, as the USA has always been a massive force in global rocket and space pioneering”, he added.

The Aussie Invader team has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the engine development stage. The team is looking to raise $25,000 and offers a variety of incentive levels to encourage public participation, see https://kck.st/2OCdxLU. Alternately, people are encouraged to upload their selfies and donate $20 on www.supersonicselfie.com.