Accurate and Reliable Rocket Thruster Technology

The proposed research project will develop an innovative approach to develop and demonstrate the technology required to produce a highly accurate, repeatable, and reliable thruster for divert and attitude control applications that also meets Insensitive Munitions Requirements. In order to reduce risk, the design draws on proven component technologies. The prototype thruster will have a nominal thrust of 6000 N with a total impulse of 90 N•s. In addition, the proposed design will be capable of performance level, growth to larger thruster values by a factor of four. The three sigma impulse repeatability will be 1%. The ignition delay will be no greater than 2.5 ms and have a 3 sigma repeatability within 5%. The action time will nominally be 15 ms and have a 3 sigma repeatability of 15% for the generic thruster. The feasibility of the proposed approach will be demonstrated in a series of hot fire tests during the Phase I research effort.