// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Bipropellant
A bipropellant is a type of rocket fuel system that uses two separate liquids, a fuel and an oxidizer, which ignite upon mixing.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Bipropellant propulsion systems utilize two distinct liquid propellants, a fuel (e.g., monomethylhydrazine) and an oxidizer (e.g., mixed oxides of nitrogen), stored separately and injected into a combustion chamber where they spontaneously or hypergolically ignite to generate thrust for spacecraft maneuvering or main propulsion.
BACKGROUND
Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost, or simply Blue Ghost, is a class of lunar landers designed and manufactured by the American company Firefly Aerospace. Firefly builds and operates Blue Ghost landers to deliver small payloads to the surface of the Moon. The first Blue Ghost mission was launched in January, 2025. It successfully landed on the Moon on March 2, 2025. The landers are named after the firefly species Phausis reticulata, known as blue ghosts.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Two-part fuel
- Liquid bipropellant
- Hypergolic fuel
- Fuel-oxidizer system
USAGE NOTE
Many satellites and upper stages use bipropellant thrusters for orbital maneuvers due to their high performance and storability.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Bipropellant.
Develops and manufactures the Merlin engine, which uses liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) bipropellants, and the Raptor engine, which uses liquid oxygen and liquid methane.
A major American manufacturer of rocket propulsion systems. They produce a wide range of bipropellant engines, including the RL10 (LOX/LH2) and the RS-25 (LOX/LH2) used on the Space Launch System.
Develops several bipropellant rocket engines, including the BE-3 (LOX/LH2) for its New Shepard vehicle and the powerful BE-4 (LOX/LNG) engine used for its New Glenn rocket and ULA's Vulcan Centaur.
Manufactures the Rutherford engine, a LOX/RP-1 bipropellant engine that powers their Electron rocket. They are also developing the larger Archimedes engine, which will use liquid oxygen and methane.
A European joint venture that develops and manufactures the Ariane family of launch vehicles. They produce the Vulcain and Vinci engines, both of which are cryogenic bipropellant systems using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.
Focuses on 3D printing entire launch vehicles. They develop the Aeon family of engines, which use liquid oxygen and liquid natural gas (LNG) as bipropellants.
A company solely focused on developing and selling rocket engines. Their product line includes the Hadley and Ripley engines, both of which are liquid bipropellant engines using LOX and kerosene.
India's national space agency develops its own bipropellant engines for its launch vehicles, including the hypergolic Vikas engine and a range of cryogenic engines using LOX and LH2.