Cryogenic Hybrid Rocket Engine for Testing High-Energy Propellants

ORBITEC proposes to develop an Advanced Cryogenic Hybrid Rocket Engine (ACHRE) that can be used by the USAF/Phillips Laboratory to test the performance of high-energy propellants from the USAF-funded program. The innovative design is based upon the knowledge and experience gained in developing, building and testing the first cryogenic hybrid propulsion system designs for the USAF and NASA. The approach would improve the control of the O/F ratio and overall combustion process. ORBITEC would design the new combustor components, integrate them into the current system and test fire the system to demonstrate the feasibility of the design. During Phase I, the following technical tasks would be performed: prepare the test facility, analyze and design the combustor components, construct and integrate the components into current ORBITEC hardware, checkout and test fire the advanced engine, analyze the test data, and develop a preliminary design of a larger system that would be delivered to the USAF in Phase II. During Phase II, we will design, build, develop and test a larger version of the advanced cryogenic hybrid rocket engine. A space-type flight engine will be designed in Phase II for possible Phase III implementation.