URSA MAJOR IS ON A MISSION
TO SOLVE HYPERSONICS AT
SCALE
Ursa Major provides storable, throttleable, and reusable propulsion with flight-proven performance across sustained Mach 5+ missions.
Draper: Tactical, Storable, and the Future of Defense Propulsion
Developed in partnership with AFRL based on the flight-proven Hadley architecture, Draper is Ursa Major’s flexible liquid rocket engine, engineered for tactical hypersonics, missile defense, in-space propulsion, and space-based interception. With the storability of a solid motor and the maneuverability of a liquid system, Draper is reusable, throttleable, and safe. It operates on non-toxic, storable propellants – hydrogen peroxide and kerosene – using a closed catalyst cycle. Designed from the ground up for additive manufacturing, Draper went from concept to TRL6 in just three years, accelerating mission timelines and reducing cost. Whether intercepting a threat, maneuvering in orbit, or powering hypersonic flight, Draper delivers rapid response and unmatched flexibility across domains.
Delivering Hypersonic Readiness: Draper to Fly in Tactical Demonstrator
Ursa Major will flight test its Draper engine by year-end as the lead integrator for a tactical hypersonic demonstrator under a $28.6 million AFRL contract.
This mission will validate Draper’s role as a storable, throttleable, and flight-ready solution for responsive space, on-orbit maneuver, and hypersonic strike.
Hadley: Flight proven hypersonic propulsion
Hadley is a liquid rocket engine powering hypersonic and small launch missions. Delivering 5,000 lbf of sea-level thrust, and up to 6,500 lbf in its vacuum variant, Hadley runs on liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene using an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle for exceptional performance.
It’s the first American engine of its kind to reach sustained Mach 5+ speeds and return, flying successfully with Stratolaunch’s Talon-A vehicle.
Built with 80% additive manufacturing, Hadley enables rapid iteration, reduced part count, and accelerated production timelines—setting a new standard for agile, affordable propulsion in contested and commercial environments.
