Elimination of Rocket Ignition Side Loads

This program has been organized assuming that the first user of this technology will be solid rocket motor boosters and engines used in a launcher such as Orion, but its results can be applied without much additional effort to other liquid propellant engines and motors they are ignited at low altitude from Earth. ASEG has already probed the market and the interest of aerospace agencies in eliminating the ignition SL, and has had a very favorable response. This program has been organized assuming that the first user of this technology will be in NASA engines, but its results can be applied without much additional effort to other liquid propellant engines, as well as solid rocket motor boosters. During the feasibility demonstration Phase I, Government agencies and propulsion prime contractors will be approached to brief them on the technology under development and the on-going results. A potential partner will be identified to join the program in Phase II, when the tools for the design and implantation of the inserts will be developed and tested in the simulator. In Phase III, the industrial partner will assist ASEG in testing the technology as a piggy back to an on-going engine development program. This industrial partner could be hopefully a NASA testing facility, a prime, or a combination of both. An agreement between Phase III partner and ASEG will be arranged for design of the inserts, their fabrication, and licensing to other industrial firms.

Commercial Sector Elimination of SLs on launch vehicles. The SL elimination devices can be retrofit. They can be installed on boosters, as well as on launchers using cryogenic propellants. This will result in lighter structures used in the throat and TVC actuators. The results and products of this proposal are of interest to the Air Force, US Navy, US Army, Orbital/ATK, Aerojet, Northrop/Grumman, Lockheed/Martin, and Raytheon. These agencies and industries have had to contend with ignition SLs in the past 10 years. Defense Applications - Strategic missile defense: Elimination of SLs during staging of strategic missiles, and interceptors - Elimination of ignition side-load in tube launched tactical missiles when egression is assisted by a gas generator to protect operating personnel - The results of this three Phase effort can be applied to any boosters, liquid engines, used in launchers, as well as those missiles that use hot staging to improve the time-of-flight. This applies to new launchers and missiles, as well to the existing fleet of vehicles with residual issues on ignition SLs by application of trivial retrofit programs. - Missiles that are tube-launched by a gas generator and are ignited after egression at a safe distance to protect the personnel (Javelin system). Estimates of the disturbing SL in a hot staging of the first stage of missiles, such as the SM-3 family More »