Small Launch Vehicles (SLV) Technologies

Difficulties in using foreign airbases and airspace are constraining the Air Force from striking high-value, time critical targets. A Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) and Common Aero Vehicle (CAV) that deploys weapons over a target within minutes after being launched from the United States can solve this problem. The SLV can also be used to launch satellites. Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company is proposing a versatile and low cost SLV that can be air or ground launched. It uses an innovative solid rocket motor with individually controlled nozzle throats providing real time controllable thrust and steering with a fixed expansion-deflection exit cone, which provides optimum expansion at all altitudes. The propellant is an environmentally friendly, safe, low cost, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant with a delivered specific impulse equal to ammonium perchlorate propellants. Phase I has shown the feasibility of the enabling technologies. Phase II will demonstrate the enabling technologies through bench testing and solid rocket static firings. This will lay the foundation for a suborbital flight of the SLV's third stage in Phase III.