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Completed TRL 6 (started at 5, targeting 6)
Busek Co, Inc. partnered GRC and MSFC to continue the maturation of the Busek’s 5N Green Monopropellant Thruster, a flight-like thruster designed to operate on AF-M315E, a non-toxic monopropellant. The team tested two engineering model thrusters with the AF-M315E green monopropellant to confirm Busek’s measured performance. MSFC conducted hot-fire performance testing of Busek’s 5N thruster in its Altitude Test Stand to measure thrust and Isp. In addition, GRC planned to utilize Raman Spectroscopy and Schlieren Imaging to study the combustion plum species relative concentrations, temperature, velocity, and structure to provide insight on thruster operation through life, degradation, and plume. This effort concluded in 2018.
Green Propellant is a less toxic and higher performance propellant for next-generation launch vehicles and spacecraft that may offer many advantages including longer mission durations, additional maneuverability, increased payload space and simplified launch processing, for future satellites.
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