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Integrated Advanced Monopropellant CMC Thruster / Thermal Stand-Off Assembly, Phase I
Completed
Description
High performance non-toxic monopropellants offer significant benefits relative to the current state-of-the-art. The benefits of these advanced monopropellants (AMP) include improved safety, a 50% reduction in density, and a 20% improvement in specific impulse (ISP). AMP propulsion represents a significant challenge for thruster components and assemblies due to the higher temperatures and the chemical constituents of the exhaust. This proposed program, with the support of Aerojet Redmond, will develop, design and fabricate an integrated ceramic matrix composite (CMC) thruster assembly comprised of the thermal stand-off (TSO), combustion chamber, and nozzle. The TSO will mitigate heat soak-back to the propellant valve utilizing an insulating CMC operating with a combustion environment greater than 2000oC. A phased design plan will be used for developing the integrated thruster assembly and results confirmed by test firing under representative conditions. A TSO prototype will be fabricated and the thermomechanical and thermochemical properties tested and analyzed during the Phase I program. The Phase II will utilize the TSO, materials development and conceptual design from the Phase I to develop an integrated CMC TSO - combustion chamber and nozzle assembly. A successful program will provide technology benefits resulting from improved performance, reduced cost and improved manufacturability.
Details
| Technology area | Propulsion Systems > Electric Space Propulsion > Electrothermal Propulsion |
| Program | Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR) |
| Lead organization | Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL |
| Start date | 2005-01-20 |
| End date | 2005-07-25 |
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This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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