Exos Aerospace Advances Reusable Spaceflight Under $1.9M U.S. Air Force SBIR Phase II Program
Award supports hover test of Hybrid Vehicle Rocket with Government-furnished RDRE, advancing reusable suborbital testing services for orbital launch development and reentry data collection
Greenville, TX – September 10, 2025 – Exos Aerospace Systems & Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a USD $1,897,824.01 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Rocket Propulsion Division, Aerospace Systems Directorate at Edwards Air Force Base.
The contract funds the design, fabrication, and hover test of Exos’s Hybrid Vehicle Rocket with RDRE (HVRR), which integrates a Government-furnished Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) provided by a partner contractor—simultaneously advancing reusable suborbital testing services for orbital launch development and reentry data collection.
“Exos Aerospace is proud to support AFRL in advancing rocket propulsion technologies that will help shape the future of reusable space access and national defense,” said John Quinn, CEO of Exos Aerospace. “This program represents how the U.S. Air Force and Space Force are charting a new path—one that leverages proven small business innovators to accelerate technological advancement. We’re grateful to the visionary USAF program managers who saw the big picture and recognized the value of integrating emerging private-sector capabilities into the national space enterprise.”
Reusable Suborbital Testing as a Service
Exos Aerospace is expanding its proven reusable launch technology as a service platform for orbital vehicle developers seeking affordable and recoverable flight test opportunities. By leveraging its Hybrid Vehicle Rocket (HVRR) and the BLK3 Hypersonic Reusable Launch Vehicle prototype - developed under contract with the U.S. Air Force - Exos enables real-world testing of avionics, structures, and reentry systems in a reusable, data-rich environment.
The company’s platforms allow customers to integrate their own avionics and Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems alongside Exos vehicles to conduct Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing (VTVL) operations. Each mission is supported by redundant recovery systems designed to protect the vehicle in the event of an anomaly - minimizing risk and preserving hardware for rapid reuse and continued testing.
This service-oriented approach enables orbital companies to gather aerodynamic, thermal, guidance, and reentry data - and validate their technology stacks before committing to full-scale orbital launches - significantly reducing cost, schedule, and technical risk.
Advantages of the Exos Suborbital Test Platform
Affordable Flight Test Service: Provides low-cost, recoverable suborbital flights for GNC, structural, and systems validation.
Orbital System De-Risking: Enables real-world data collection to mature orbital-class vehicles before full deployment.
VTVL Capability: Supports customer avionics and GNC integration for vertical takeoff and landing tests.
Redundant Recovery Systems: Protects flight hardware from single anomalies, allowing rapid turnaround and reuse.
Reentry and Recovery Data: Captures high-value data for thermal protection, reentry dynamics, and flight control optimization.
Full-Stack Validation: Integrates Type V tank technology and Integrated Pressurized Structures (IPS) for lightweight, efficient vehicle systems.
About Exos Aerospace
Exos Aerospace Systems & Technologies, Inc. is a Texas-based aerospace company delivering cost-efficient flight test services, orbital transfer vehicle development, and advanced satellite fuel tank solutions. Leveraging the HVRR and the BLK3 Hypersonic Reusable Launch Vehicle prototype - developed under contract with the U.S. Air Force - along with proprietary Type V tank technology and Integrated Pressurized Structures (IPS), Exos provides lightweight, reusable, and affordable platforms that enable both government and commercial customers to advance space technology faster and at lower cost.
Media Contact:
Lizi Quinn
lquinn@exosaero.com
exosaero.com
