Advanced Solar Rocket Receiver

Refractory Concepts Incorporated proposes an advanced solar rocket receiver concept that overcomes propulsive fluid pressure/nozzle expansion ratios through a combination of carbon-carbon composites and refractory metal fluid liner structures. The proposed design overcomes structural limitations, scale-up limitations, orbital damage tolerance reliability concerns. During Phase I, Refractory Composites Incorporated will design, construct and deliver a sub-scale receiver element suitable for evaluation in the Phillips Laboratory Solar Rocket Test Facility. During Phase II, Refractory Composites Incorporated expects to demonstrate full scale fabrication feasibility and long life solar propulsion reliability. Solar rockets have the potential to increase expendable propellant impulse performance to levels comparable to nuclear rockets without the reaioactive risks. Geosynchronous satellites used for C3I purposes will benefit dramatically from advanced solar rocket propulsion. Ultra High temperature solar receivers also raise the thermodynamic performance of space based solar thermal electrical power systems wuch as Solar Brayton cycles to levels that have not been achieved to date.