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Low Cost Carbon-Carbon Rocket Nozzle Development
Completed
TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 4)
Description
This development will provide an inexpensive vacuum nozzle manufacturing option for NOFBXTM monopropellant systems that are currently being developed under NASA SBIR funding. NOFBXTM is non toxic and utilizes a much simpler monopropellant feed system architecture. Furthermore NOFBXTM meets the criteria for a non-toxic propellants that will meet NASA's performance targets (as indicated by high specific impulse and high specific impulse density) while improving safety and reducing handling operations as compared to current state-of-the-art hydrazine-based propellants. During the proposed effort we will develop CC composite in-space nozzles for use on 100lbf class NOFBXTM thrusters. We have built the first CC composite rocket nozzle prototype that does not require autoclaving or CVD/CVI processes. In fact our process is more akin to typical carbon fiber lay-up standards than that of typical CC composites manufacturing methods.
Benefits
High temperature Carbon-Carbon composites are used in all sorts of high temperature applications. This development will provide an much less expensive way of manufacturing CC components that may be used in many terrestrial applications such as the nuclear and renew ables power industries.
Commercial applications include Non-Toxic In-Space Propulsion including 100Lbf and 5lbf Thrusters, Upper Stage Launch Vehicle and Kick motors, Small launch vehicle engines, Large launch vehicle engines
Details
| Technology area | Propulsion Systems > Chemical Space Propulsion > Cryogenic Propulsion |
| Program | Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR) |
| Lead organization | Firestar Engineering, LLC, Mojave, CA |
| Start date | 2011-02-18 |
| End date | 2011-09-29 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.