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A Small Ohio Startup is Testing Something Big – A Small Hypersonic Engine

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A Small Ohio Startup is Testing Something Big – A Small Hypersonic Engine


Air-breathing hypersonic powerplants are typically fighter-jet engine-sized. But Velontra has just test-run an 11-inch diameter, five foot-long turbojet that will be the core of its Bronco hypersonic propulsion system.

The Ohio-based company was launched in 2021 with a goal of one day producing a low earth orbit spaceplane to serve the satellite launch market. Like every other would-be hypersonic transport/launch developer, it will pursue government and defense technology contracts on the way there.

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The small size of the Bronco propulsion system makes Velontra stand out. A ready-made hypersonic engine for smaller drones and other air vehicles is of obvious interest to a variety of national defense and commercial organizations, particularly if it can be delivered cost-effectively.

Velontra leaves little doubt on that point, claiming that the unit cost for Bronco will be “less than $200,000”. The company was started with cost and rapid development firmly in mind taking inspiration from SpaceX says Velontra CTO, Joel Darin.

“We don’t want to just ask investors to trust us with a ton of money and ten years later see if our idea works or not. We want to produce actual products at each stage that develop the technology we’ll eventually need. This small application lets us develop a product at a fraction of the cost [of full scale hypersonics] that people will buy.”

According to Darin, large hypersonic propulsion system testing in full-scale wind tunnel facilities can cost up to $50,000 per hour. “We’re paying $300,000 to get two to three months of testing,” he says. “The development is much cheaper but the lessons we learn are scale-able to bigger applications.”

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Applications, particularly drone and test vehicle roles, are something Velontra expects to rapidly move its small hypersonic propulsion system into. The company has already taken the first step in doing so in signing a contract with hypersonic transport developer, Venus Aerospace to provide four Bronco propulsion systems to power a small-scale near-hypersonic UAV which Venus will use to test its own hypersonic propulsion technology.

I previously wrote about Venus’ efforts to realize its own hypersonic airliner and the likely defense technology development/sales route it will take to get there. I was unable to get confirmation of the supplier contract with Velontra from Venus by publication time.

However, it would seem reasonable that the Texas company may subcontract the air-breathing powerplant for a hypersonic test vehicle to perfect its own liquid-propellant rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE). Darin asserts that it is remarkable for a seed-phase startup like Velontra to already have a hardware contract in hand. He also alluded to the model it establishes for his company.

“They’re [Venus] like an airframer buying our propulsion system,” Darin says. That could be a replicable business proposition for the small Ohio firm (currently it has a dozen staff) if anticipated flight testing of Bronco late this year in Venus Aerospace’ hypersonic drone is successful. Darin did not disclose the value of the Venus contract but did affirm that Velontra currently has a total of $2 million in contracts for Bronco.

A successful flight test and program with Venus would logically be watched by DoD’s science and technology community. Darin told me that Velontra has four Phase 1 research contracts with the Air Force’s AFWERX innovation hub although the organization confirmed only two Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) projects.

Nevertheless, compact hypersonic propulsion systems will be avidly sought by the defense community which has repeatedly expressed its desire for a quick expansion of hypersonic development test resources. The Pentagon’s National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC) organization has already demonstrated such appetite, laying out $1.5 million in development funding earlier this year for a 3D-printed hypersonic rocket engine called “Mjölnir” from Seattle-based New Frontier Aerospace (NFA).

The size of Mjölnir isn’t clear but it appears to be small-ish. The engine has yet to run (testing is slated for 2024) and it is apparently not an air-breathing system. That Bronco is an already-tested, air-breathing hypersonic propulsion unit speaks to its advantages.

Its cost advantage derives from using an unconventional off-the-shelf core. Rather than a full-fledged turbojet engine like the GE J85 that hypersonic developer Hermeus uses in its Chimera powerplant, Bronco makes use of a small turbojet used in military target drones and hobbyist radio-controlled jet models – Atlanta-based PBS
PBS
Aerospace’ PBS TJ150.

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In stock configuration the small engine provides 337 pounds of thrust. The Bronco design adds a Velontra-developed afterburner and a ramjet to get the system to hypersonic speeds. Joel Darin says the company is shooting for 500 to 600 pounds of thrust from the TJ150 core, enough to propel air vehicles with 700 to 1000 pounds dry weight to supersonic speeds and then to accelerate to hypersonic velocities as Bronco’s ramjet comes online.

The combination (including the ramjet) was tested this Spring in Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories in a High Pressure Combustion Lab. Velontra CEO, Robert Keane III, said the Bronco was tested, “at speeds over Mach 4.5 and altitude simulated over 100,000 feet, and it successfully screamed through vigorous testing with flying colors.”

The results, combined with a real piece of hardware, have generated significant enthusiasm Darin says. “We’ve gotten nothing but good reaction to the test and even the [general] idea before that. With the [test] milestone we hit recently, we can start making the rounds, reminding [potential investors] we’ve done what we said we were going to do.”

As noted, investment could come from a variety interested parties including companies looking to meet the U.S. Air Force’s desire for attritable Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) for which the first performance metric is supposed to be cost. Low cost with hypersonic capability would indeed be big.

The next phase will see Velontra work towards optimizing Bronco for thrust, thrust vectoring, and durability as well as pushing to first-flight in the Venus Aerospace UAV Derin says. Success in such near-term development could attract both more attention and more money though Velontra’s CEO insists the company’s goal is to learn as quickly as possible by selling Broncos.

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“This is not something that looks cool to raise money off of. This is a product.”



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How to watch No. 8 Ohio State vs. Washington women’s basketball game free today: Live stream

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How to watch No. 8 Ohio State vs. Washington women’s basketball game free today: Live stream


COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State women’s basketball team will try to get its 20th win of the the season when it hosts Washington today – Sunday, Feb. 2 – on the Big Ten Network. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. Eastern.

Basketball fans without cable can still tune in to today’s game. Several streaming services will broadcast the game live. and you can watch on Fubo (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and Sling (promotional offers).

The eighth-ranked Buckeyes (19-1, 8-1 Big Ten) have won their last two games since losing their first game of the season to Penn State on Jan. 19. Their most recent win was a 72-66 win at Nebraska. The Huskies (13-8, 4-5 Big Ten) have lost four of their last five, with the most recent being a 73-70 home loss to Indiana.

Here’s more information on how you can watch:

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What: No. 8 Ohio State vs. Washington women’s college basketball

When: Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025

Time: 5 p.m. Eastern

Where: Schottenstein Center | Columbus, OH

Channel: Big Ten Network

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Best Streaming Options: Fubo (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and Sling (promotional offers).

Channel finder if you have cable: You can access the channel by using the channel finders online: Verizon Fios, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish.



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Women’s college hockey: Gophers split weekend series with Ohio State

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Women’s college hockey: Gophers split weekend series with Ohio State


The Gophers women’s hockey team held a 3-2 lead over Ohio State late in the second period Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena when Gophers coach Brad Frost elected to call a timeout.

One got the sense that the final 1:48 of the period was going to be huge, that keeping the lead heading into the final period would go a long way in allowing the Gophers to complete the weekend sweep of the defending national champions.

That instinct proved correct. The Buckeyes tied the game at 19:09 of the second period and scored four more times in the third period as Minnesota lost a penalty-filled, 7-3 game that split the weekend series.

“We were in good shape,” Frost said, “and then it got away pretty quickly.”

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Frost said the primary reason he called the timeout was to get some fresh legs on the ice. But, indeed, the point was made that the Gophers needed to do everything they could to retain the lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

Gophers senior right winger Peyton Hemp’s second goal of the game gave the Gophers the 3-2 lead at 14:15 of the second period. It proved to be the last hurrah for the Gophers.

“I just feel like stuff wasn’t going our way,” Hemp said of the deciding stretch of the game. “I felt like the whole weekend, we were pretty steady and doing all the little things right. But sometimes it doesn’t bounce your way, and it happened to us a lot today.

“We all really wanted the sweep. It would have been huge for us.”

After going down rather quietly on Friday, the Buckeyes had a lot more fire in their game on Saturday.

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“We dictated a lot more (Friday) night,” Frost said, “and they dictated a lot more tonight, as good teams tend to do.”

The Gophers (22-6-1, 16-5-1 WCHA) scored the only goal of the first period, with Emma Connor picking up her third of the season with the game less than two minutes old. The Buckeyes (21-6-3, 15-6-3) got on the board at 1:13 of the second period on the first of three goals in the game by Plymouth native Sloane Matthews.

Matthews’ third goal of the game was the pivotal one, tying the game at 3-3. The Buckeyes scored three times in the first five minutes of the third period, all on the power play.

“Penalties never helps us,” Hemp said. “It’s one of our biggest things we have to keep on the lockdown.”

There were 20 minor penalties called in the game, along with a 10-minute misconduct given to the Gophers’ Abbey Murphy in a particularly chippy third period. Frost was less than pleased with the way the game was called by the referees.

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“I haven’t seen something like that in a long time,” he said. “It was a good hockey game until all hell broke loose. There were three or four times this weekend we were on the power play and they evened it up.

“I know it’s hard to referee two really good physical women’s hockey teams. I know they’re doing their best, but it’s just unfortunate the way things turned out in the third.”

The Gophers, who saw their winning streak end at seven games, were on the highest of highs after Friday’s win. Now, they need to find a way to bounce back from a disappointing loss.

“As a coach, in the back of your mind, if we can get a split on the weekend against another top team, it’s going to be great,” Frost said. “But when you win the first one, you want the second one so bad.

“It’s easy to dwell on this the whole week, but we don’t have time to do it and we’re not gonna.”

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Up next, a pair of games on the road against No. 1 Wisconsin.

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How to watch Ohio State vs. Michigan – NCAA Wrestling (2/1/25) | Channel, stream, preview

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How to watch Ohio State vs. Michigan – NCAA Wrestling (2/1/25) | Channel, stream, preview


ANN ARBOR — Two of the top wrestling programs in the country square off on Saturday afternoon as the Michigan Wolverines play host to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

  • Watch Michigan on FuboTV (7-day free trial)

The Wolverines seem a little outmatched heading into this meet, but they have some individual talent that are capable of putting up a good fight. Michigan is coming off a 22-13 win over nationally-ranked Indiana last Sunday, giving the maize and blue its first win against a ranked opponent this season.

Michigan is 1-2 against top-25 teams, having lost to Minnesota and Nebraska before beating the Hoosiers.

The Buckeyes come into Ann Arbor looking to get back on the winning track. They lost for the first time this season last Saturday, losing to a really talented Iowa team. Ohio State had won each of its first 11 meets this season, including a big win over Iowa State back in December.

The Buckeyes are tied for third in the Big Ten, while the Wolverines are tied for ninth.

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Since 1999, the Wolverines are 15-9 against Ohio State on the mat, though the Buckeyes have won each of the past meetings.

Read more U-M stories on MLive.com

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL

#4 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1, 3-1 B1G) vs. #19 Michigan Wolverines (5-3, 2-3 B1G)

When: Saturday, February 1

Time: 2 p.m. ET

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Where: Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

Channel: Big Ten Network

Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream

Check out the NCAA Men’s Wrestling rankings here



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