MJOLNIR SPACEWORKS to supply tanks for JAXA's CRAFT rocket

MJOLNIR SPACEWORKS (MSW) has announced the provision of weldless aluminum tanks for the propulsion system of CRAFT (Compact Reusable Air-assist Flight Test rocket). This small experimental aircraft is part of a next-generation space transportation research project led by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), a division of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

MSW has already delivered the flight model for the liquid oxygen (LOX) tank and has completed partial prototyping for the liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank. The CRAFT project aims to demonstrate “air-assist flight,” a world-first approach that utilizes atmospheric air to enhance propulsion performance rather than treating it solely as resistance. This method combines air-breathing engines with rocket engines to increase launch capacity and improve the efficiency of reusable operations.