Technology / Hopper
Learning to land.
Our vertical takeoff and landing hopper. Built to develop autonomous flight, precision landing, and the systems a reusable rocket needs.
Explore the vehicle
Vertical takeoff. Controlled descent. Repeat.Flight sequence
The vehicle
Small hops.
Useful lessons.
Hopper tests guidance, landing control, and vehicle turnaround at low altitude before we apply them to larger vehicles.
| Height | 3 m / 9.8 ft |
|---|---|
| Stance | 5 m / 16.4 ft |
| Liftoff mass | ~650 kg / 1,433 lb |
| Propellant | LOX / RP-1 |
| Engine thrust | 7 kN / 1,573 lbf |
TVC assembly
Hopper complete
- 04 / Tether
AI generatedTethered flight
Validate propulsion and flight control under tethered conditions.
- 05 / Flight
AI generatedFree flight
Test vehicle response, navigation, and recovery in free flight.
- 06 / Repeat
AI generatedRepeatable operations
Repeat the mission and reduce turnaround time.
Propulsion
Meet the engine powering Hopper.
LEAP71’s 7 kN TKL-7 engine burns liquid oxygen and RP-1 kerosene.
Designed with Noyron and 3D-printed in copper chromium zirconium alloy using laser powder bed fusion.
- Thrust
- 7 kN
- Material
- CuCr1Zr
- Manufacturing
- PBF-LB