Hybrid Propulsion Technology for Robotic Science Missions

C3 Propulsion's novel Hybrid Propulsion System (HPS) will be applied to a NASA-selected Robotic Science Mission. Phase I demonstrated the Proof-of-Principle and Phase II will design, fabricate, and demonstrate a flight-like propulsion system for that specific application. The HPS is non-toxic, stable, and has energy management (throttleable or pulse-width modulated) capabilities. In Phase I, C3 Propulsion demonstrated that its hybrid fuel formulations can withstand storage at -78ºC, with minimal effect on its physical or ballistic properties, and is expected to be able to operate in the cold temperature of Mars and outer planet moons. Its simple design decreases risk, reduces size, reduces mass, and increases reliability. It has high volume and density specific impulses and is expected to increase performance and lower costs.In Phase II, a specific robotic science mission will be identified to determine system issues, including thrust, total impulse, weight, and volume. The selected mission will affect the design and operation of the system and will lead to a notional HPS design. A mini-thruster, Hybrid Screening Engine (HSE), will be designed, based on the notional system, to complete the development of a baseline fuel formulation. This formulation will be thoroughly characterized for mechanical properties, including the thermal coefficient of expansion. A full-scale heavyweight thruster will be designed and tested at the test stand of the Propulsion Research Center (University of Alabama in Huntsville), which is being upgraded by MDA. A preliminary HPS will be designed to determine the volume, shape, and weight of the selected propulsion system for future programs. A DoT Hazard Classification for the baseline fuel will be obtained, which is expected to be no more hazardous than 1.4C.