Hydrogen Peroxide / Kerosene Engine Development

Completed TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)

Description

Under the Technology Topic Area 5 Topic 5: Small, Affordable, High Performance Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine Development, Dynetics will develop a third-stage engine for the Dynetics Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) that is based on the vehicle design developed during the Dynetics NASA Small Launch Vehicle trade study and the technology developed by Dynetics' 110-lbf hydrogen peroxide/kerosene Google Lunar X-Prize (GLXP) engine tested in 2011. Dynetics has also recently replied to a Boeing RFI in which they were looking for a similar 1000-lbf peroxide/kerosene engine. The SLV third-stage engine is currently the only major component of the SLV that has not been developed, as shown in Figure 5. Developing this engine will allow the SLV to be produced with a shorter development schedule and at lower risk.

Benefits

Developing this engine will allow the SLV (suborbital launch vehicle) to be produced with a shorter development schedule and at lower risk. These solicitations increase focus on collaborations with the commercial space sector that not only leverage emerging markets and capabilities to meet NASA's strategic goals, but also focus on industry needs. NASA's investments in industry partnerships can accelerate the availability of, and reduce costs for the development and infusion of, these emerging space system capabilities. While developing the technology to enable NASA's next generation of science and human exploration missions, we will grow the economy and strengthen the nation's economic competitiveness.

Details

Technology area	Propulsion Systems > Chemical Space Propulsion > Earth Storable Propellants
Program	Flight Opportunities (FO)
Lead organization	Dynetics, Inc., Huntsville, AL
Start date	2015-11-01
End date	2019-04-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Darren E Gero
Stacy C Oberman

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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.