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.