Electric Propellant Solid Rocket Motor Thruster Results Enabling Small Satellites

Electric Propellant Solid Rocket Motor Thruster Results Enabling Small Satellites

Raytheon Missile Systems has developed and tested true on/off/restart solid propellant thrusters which are controlled only by electrical current. This new patented class of energetic rocket propellant is safe, controllable and simple. The range of applications for this game changing technology includes attitude control systems and a safe alternative to higher impulse space satellite thrusters. Described herein are descriptions and performance data for several small electric propellant solid rocket motor thrusters, with thrusts ranging from milli-pounds force to several tens of pounds of thrust, and are capable of sustained thrust profiles or may be pulsed at over 30Hz. Specifically, the paper focuses on a cube-sat design utilizing a number of such small electric propellant thrusters in an optimized form factor that maximizes historically underutilized structure volume with the use of additive manufacturing. The specific power demand and power supply bus integration are discussed, as are results from propellant space environment and hazard class testing. Overall, the packaged design promises to deliver significant impulse and enhanced capabilities for a range of mission profiles and can be integrated directly with new and existing cube-sat payloads. Owing to its inherent simplicity and reduced parts-count, the cost target for this new type of controllable propulsion is nearly an order of magnitude more affordable than current comparable controllable propulsion offerings.