High Performance Pulse Motor for Mission Flexibility

Although solid rocket motors (SRM) are ideally suited to many propulsion applications, their lack of controllability restricts their mission flexibility. Following ignition of an SRM’s propellant grain, combustion continues until all propellant is consumed. Controllability of the motor’s thrust profile can provide improved missile performance and multi-role capability. One approach to gaining controllability is to use a pulse motor configuration, in which multiple solid propellant grains, physically separated by a barrier, are ignited individually, and burn independently, thereby providing multiple, discreet thrust pulses. Past development programs have proven technologies capable of providing thrust management but have not entered service mainly due to reduced propellant mass fraction and resulting loss in total impulse. A need exists for advanced materials and processes to overcome these performance losses and provide pulse motor thrust management payoffs at affordable cost and with high reliability and safety. Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) proposes to demonstrate feasibility of a high performance solid rocket pulse motor based on a modular design approach, with bonded end closures, incorporating innovative materials and manufacturing processes. Low cost, reliable manufacturing processes, coupled with advanced, lightweight, high performance materials, will provide the capability to achieve the desired thrust management and resulting performance enhancements.