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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 4)
C3 Propulsion has developed a green monopropellant alternative to the LMP-103S and AF-M315E varieties currently flying. This new formuation has properties which lower the combustion temperature, catalyst bed preheating temperatures, and easy handling characteristics. This project provides critical characteristics of the new propellant and provides hot-fire data with laboratory grade hardware. For the final phase of testing the new propellant is tested in a flight-ready thruster designed for AF-M315E, but anticipated to be easily adaptable to this new type of propellant.
The benefits of this technology are much lower operating power requirements on already energy constrained small spacecraft. The pre-heating temperatures are expected to be approximately 200 degrees C lower than AF-M315E, which translates to a drastically reduced power consumption. Additionally, this propellant will be useful in dual mode systems which use chemical and electrospray thrusters attached to a common manifold system.
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