Real-Time Health Management Portable Sensor for Solid Rocket Motors

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to design, develop, and demonstrate a portable, non-invasive, real-time sensor to assess the chemical and physical health of solid rocket motors as a function of age without affecting the motors integrity nor having direct contact with the propellant. In Phase II, a sensor to monitor specific gas species that are markers of the chemical and mechanical aging processes of composite and double base propellants will be demonstrated in an analog motor. The operational specification of the sensor will be quantified and validated in relevant environments. Mathematical models that correlate the spectral signatures-to-adverse changes in propellant material properties will be simultaneously refined to allow an autonomous health monitoring sensor. PSI will manufacture this sensor and transition this to MDA via Aerojet.