Solid LIquid Integrated Cycle Engine (SLICE)

The Solid Liquid Integrated Cycle (SLICE) uses a solid fuel gas generator for the fuel and a liquid oxidizer. The propellants are combusted in an array of small thrusters with the exhaust expanded on an aerospike nozzle. The basic feasibility of the Solid Liquid Integrated Cycle Engine (SLICE) was substantiated through analysis and sub-scale testing with nitrous oxide as the oxidizer in HUSB Phase I , and with oxygen with a single element thruster and with three thrusters in HUSB Phase II. SLICE reduces cost by using safe, easy to handle propellants and by taking advantage of economy of scale in the manufacturing of the thrusters. The objective of this effort is to mature the SLICE concept and demonstrate it in flight on the Towed Glider Air Launched System TGALS subscale test. The concept will be scaled up to a larger booster and fabricated for future demonstration testing.