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Bifröst
High-Performance Cryogenic Orbit Transfer Spacecraft (OTS)

Bifröst High-Performance Cryogenic Orbit Transfer Spacecraft (OTS)

Bifröst is an orbital transfer spacecraft powered by NFA’s 3D printed, full-flow staged combustion, LOX/LNG Mjölnir engine - and optimized for small satellites and NASA “Venture Class” launch vehicles. 

From low Earth orbit, a 3,000 lb. gross weight Bifröst enables rapid Hohmann transfers of: 

  • 400 lb. payloads to geostationary orbit; 

  • 200 lbs. to any location in cislunar space; or 

  • 110 lbs. to Venus transfer, Mars transfer or Earth escape velocity. 

Key Benefits 

The high-performance engine enables the design of a small and lightweight OTS due to its performance and the high bulk density of LOX/LNG fuel, which is over twice that of LOX/LH2 fuels. This level of performance and dense propellants allow for the delivery of a reliable, long-life, light-weight, and low-cost OTS with key performance parameters:

  • Powered by a high-performance full-flow staged combustion engine

  • Higher thrust and Delta v than the competition

  • Throttleable thrust from 30% to 100%

  • Autogenous pressurization with unlimited zero-g restarts 

  • Access to all Earth, Lunar and cislunar orbits

  • Faster transfers to the libration points

  • Proprietary zero-boiloff technology

 

Applications 

NASA

Bifröst has the potential to evolve from a transfer stage into a lunar lander - and ultimately a refuelable and fully re-usable OTS. From LEO a 3,000 lb gross OTS can deploy a 400 lb payload to GEO and over 200 lbs to any location in cislunar space, including Earth escape velocity.

For more information go to the NASA Tech Portal. 

Military

A 3,000 lb OTS enables responsive military access throughout cislunar space for space domain awareness and other missions.

Commercial
  • Bifröst has a small form factor optimized for launch inside the fairing of venture-class vehicles. 

  • The Mjölnir engine will be available for Bifröst, lunar lander, or related capabilities in 2024.

NFA Lunar Lander Banner 01.jpg

Bifröst High-Performance Cryogenic Lunar Lander

Bifröst High-Performance Cryogenic Lunar Lander
Key Benefits 

The Bifröst Lander’s high-performance Mjölnir engine enables the soft landing of large payloads (hundreds of kg) on the lunar surface due to both the performance of its pump-fed engine and the high bulk density of its LOX/LNG propellants. This level  of performance and dense propellants allow delivery of a  reliable, long-life, light-weight, and low-cost lunar lander with key performance metrics: 

•    Powered by a high-performance full-flow staged combustion engine

•    Access to all lunar regions (e.g., poles, back side)

•    Potential for sample return

 

Applications 

NASA 

Affordable and rapidly produced Bifröst landers can deliver near-term missions to the Moon in support of Artemis, including:

•    Pre-arrival landing site survey

•    Complementary data collection

•    Complementary sample return

Commercial

•    Less than a week from launch to landing

•    Heavier payloads to the surface than competitors

•    Potential for commercial product return

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