Advanced Hybrid Rocket Motor

ORBITEC proposes to continue the development of MAELSTROM, an advanced hybrid rocket motor, to meet the demands of highly flexible boost propulsion for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense applications. Key MAELSTROM features include: versatile energy management, high propulsive performance, inherent safety of a hybrid, non-toxic and insensitive propellants, and a long-term storable system. The benefits of MAELSTROM result from the synergistic combination of ORBITEC’s innovative approaches to high-performance hybrid rocket motors. A vortex oxidizer injector generates a coaxial, bi-directional flow field that drives extremely high solid-fuel regression rates, allowing for short, compact fuel grain design with aspect ratios as low as one to be achieved. In the mature MAELSTROM, solid fuel regression rate sensors will provide feedback to the closed-loop oxidizer controller. In addition to high mass fraction and high combustion efficiency, MAELSTROM will provide safe, highly-flexible boost propulsion with deep throttling capability for large thrust turndown ratios and efficient energy management.