IGF::OT::IGF FLIGHT WORKS IS PROPOSING TO EXPAND ITS WORK IN MICRO-GEAR-PUMPS FOR HYPERGOLIC AND "GREEN" PR…

Public award description

IGF::OT::IGF FLIGHT WORKS IS PROPOSING TO EXPAND ITS WORK IN MICRO-GEAR-PUMPS FOR HYPERGOLIC AND "GREEN" PROPELLANTS AND TEAM WITH AEROJET-ROCKETDYNE IN ORDER TO DEVELOP AND DEMONSTRATE A MICROPUMP FOR MON-25 AND MONO METHYL HYDRAZINE (MMH) BIPROPELLANT THRUSTERS. MON-25, WITH 25% OF NITRIC OXIDE (NO) AND 75% NITROGEN TETROXIDE (NTO, N2O4), ALLOWS LOWERING THE OXIDIZER FREEZING POINT TO -55 C, WHICH IS A CLOSE MATCH TO THAT OF THE FUEL, MMH (WHICH IS AROUND -51 C). WHILE TOXIC, THIS PROPELLANT COMBINATION IS HYPERGOLIC AND ALLOWS OPERATIONS OVER A WIDE RANGE OF TEMPERATURES, PARTICULARLY IN EXTREMELY COLD ENVIRONMENTS AS THOSE ENVISIONED FOR MANY FUTURE MISSIONS. THE INTRODUCTION OF A MICROPUMP IN THE PROPULSION SYSTEM PROVIDES MANY BENEFITS, INCLUDING THE ELIMINATION OF THE PRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS; LIGHTER, CHEAPER, AND CONFORMAL TANKS; IMPROVED SYSTEM PACKAGING; REMOVAL OF PROPELLANT CROSS-CONTAMINATION IN THE PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM; AND LONG TERM STORAGE FOR EXTENDED DURATION MISSIONS (SINCE THE LOSS OF HELIUM IS NO LONGER A CONCERN). UNDER A PHASE I SBIR, FLIGHT WORKS INC. IS PREPARED TO DEVELOP AND CHARACTERIZE A MICROPUMP SUITABLE FOR BOTH MMH AND MON-25, INITIALLY SIZED FOR 22-30 N (5-7 LBF) CLASS THRUSTERS WITH APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MPA (365 PSI) INLET PRESSURE, WITH THE GOAL OF DEMONSTRATING THE TECHNOLOGY WITH PUMP-FED MMH/MON-25 HOT FIRE TESTS BY THE END OF PHASE II.