Commercial applications include apogee topping motors for commercial satellites as well as pitch and roll control motors for launch vehicles. Military applications include both primary propulsion and divert and attitude control system functions for missiles and missile defense. Because the proposed chambers can be used with storable propellants such as NTO/MMH, they can be used as drop-in replacements for iridium/rhenium engines being manufactured and flown.
For cryogenic LOX/CH4 engines in the 25- to 500-lbf thrust class, potential NASA applications include reaction control system engines for lunar or Martian ascent/descent vehicles, lunar or Martian sample return vehicles, and main engines for interplanetary spacecraft and spacecraft being placed into geostationary orbit. In addition to spacecraft applications, the technology can also be applied to launch vehicles for pitch and roll control. Smaller versions of the engine can be used for attitude control applications on any of these vehicles. The material technology can also be used with Earth-storable propellants such as NTO/MMH.
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