Slow Cook-Off Insensitive Munitions Solutions for Solid Rocket Motors

Missile defense systems are now required to conform to the insensitive munitions requirements of MIL STD 2105C. Meeting such requirements in the ballistic missile defense system will require a layered approach involving modified shipping containers and canisters, improvements in solid rocket motor casings, and less sensitive solid rocket propellant. One of the most difficult IM responses to mitigate is slow cook. Not only the propellant, but the casing and canister contribute to the response either through pressure build or through formation of lethal projectiles. Luna Innovations is proposing a method to address slow cook-off events for large diameter (greater than 12 inch) solid rocket motors. Luna’s approach is to modify the response of the launch canister to initiate venting at a sufficiently low temperature to avoid the buildup of potentially explosive pressures. The venting temperature may be tuned to correspond with the temperature at which degradation of the propellant occurs.