Long-Duration Proportional Thruster for Navy Hot-Gas Control System

VTS proposes the development of a conceptual design for a proportional thruster used in an assembly that can replace the current IVA on the Navy SSP PBCS. The concept design will be matured through a process that includes an architecture trade study, model-based engineering (MBE), performance model showing pintle position and chamber pressure to provide the requisite thrust versus time profile, and key tests. The process is structured with the aim of reducing risk on a future Phase II development effort. We will identify the technical risks and develop mitigation plans that can be used to define Phase II scope. VTS will work with Navy SSP to establish all necessary technical requirements. VTS will leverage thermal-management design techniques developed on previous DOD proportional thruster contracts to achieve operation for 1,000 seconds with 3,000° Fahrenheit gas temperature. The concept design will be evaluated for deign margins by performing preliminary thermos-structural analyses of the MBE-generated design.