Nitrous Oxide Liquid Injection Thrust Vector Control System Testing, Phase II

A Nitrous Oxide-fed Liquid Thrust Vector Control system is proposed as an efficient method for vehicle attitude control during powered flight. Pulled from a N2O main propulsion system oxidizer tank, it features system simplicity, no toxicity, room temperature storability, high system mass fraction and superior performance due to its exothermic decomposition characteristics, answering the need for innovative attitude control technologies. A continuing series of 1,000 lb thrust hybrid rocket motor tests are proposed to characterize N2O's Side Specific Impulse as a function of thrust vectoring angle, as well as a series of 4,000 lb thrust motor firings culminating in a closed-loop Guidance Navigation and Control Hardware-In-The-Loop test in a vertical stand. At the conclusion of Phase 2, the technology will be ready for development into an upper stage as an integrated main propulsion Thrust Vector Control (TVC) /Attitude Control System for a small launch vehicle, or as a separate TVC system for any solid, liquid or hybrid powered vehicle.

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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