The project targets its first orbital launch in 2030 using MethaLOX engines—liquid methane and liquid oxygen propulsion systems designed entirely through computational methods rather than traditional physical prototyping. Second-stage engine hot-fire testing begins in Q3 2026. Leap 71, a Dubai-based computational engineering firm co-founded by aerospace engineer Josefine Lissner, will handle all propulsion development. The specific technical specifications of the Oryx vehicle beyond payload capacity remain undisclosed.
This represents the first significant non-U.S. commercial challenge to SpaceX's dominance in reusable orbital launch systems. With reusable rockets currently controlled by American operators, Aspire and Leap 71's 2030 launch target positions the UAE as a new center for advanced space propulsion technology and signals a potential shift in global commercial spaceflight. The compressed development timeline—achieved through computational design rather than traditional engineering—warrants close attention as a potential model for future aerospace development. Attorneys tracking space law, export controls, and international technology partnerships should monitor regulatory approvals and any U.S. government responses to this non-American reusable launch capability.