Development of the Nucleus Hybrid Propulsion System: Enabling A Successful Flight Demonstration

Faenza, Martina; Boiron, Adrien J.; Haemmerli, Bastien; Verberne, Constans J.

doi:10.2514/6.2019-3839

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Since the maiden flight of SpaceShipOne, hybrid rockets have become the core technology of at least seven Earth-launch vehicle developers: Rocket Crafters/Vaya Space (since 2010, USA [5,6]), Gilmour Space Technologies (since 2012, Australia [7,8]), TiSPACE (since 2016, Taiwan [9,10]), Nammo (Nucleus project since 2017 [8,11]), HyImpulse (since 2018, Germany [12,13]), Firehawk (since 2018, USA [5,14]), and SpaceForest (SIR project since 2018, Poland [15,16]); at least four new satellite thruster developers: T4i (since 2014, Italy [17]), Utah State University (since 2014, USA [18,19]), NASA (Kick Motor project since 2016, USA [20,21]), and Hokkaido University (Kick Motor project since 2017, Japan [22,23]); and at least one planetary ascent vehicle developer: NASA (MAV project since 2016, USA [24,25]). In recent years, the Hokkaido University kick motor has become the focus for the authors' work.…”

Section: Introduction 1state Of Hybrid Rocket Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybrid Rockets as Post-Boost Stages and Kick Motors

2021

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Hybrid rockets are attractive as post-boost stages and kick motors due to their inherent safety and low cost, but it is not clear from previous research which oxidizer is most suitable for maximizing ΔV within a fixed envelope size, or what impact O/F shift and nozzle erosion will have on ΔV. A standard hybrid rocket design is proposed and used to clarify the impact of component masses on ΔV within three 1 m3 envelopes of varying height-to-base ratios. Theoretical maximum ΔV are evaluated first, assuming constant O/F and no nozzle erosion. Of the four common liquid oxidizers: H2O2 85 wt%, N2O, N2O4, and LOX, H2O2 85 wt% is shown to result in the highest ΔV, and N2O is shown to result in the highest density ΔV, which is the ΔV normalized for motor density. When O/F shift is considered, the ΔV decreases by 9% for the N2O motor and 12% for the H2O2 85 wt% motor. When nozzle erosion is also considered, the ΔV decreases by another 7% for the H2O2 85 wt% motor and 4% for the N2O motor. Even with O/F shift and nozzle erosion, the H2O2 85 wt% motor can accelerate itself (916 kg) upwards of 4000 m/s, and the N2O motor (456 kg) 3550 m/s.

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Section: Introduction 1state Of Hybrid Rocket Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybrid Rockets as Post-Boost Stages and Kick Motors

2021

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“…Work on HTP hybrid technology was continued in the 1990s [35]. Renewed increased interest in HTP hybrids can be seen in the 21st century and intense experimental research and development has been carried out in the last two decades in over a dozen countries worldwide, including: Australia [36], China [37], France [38], Germany [39], Italy [40], Israel [41], Japan [42], Norway [43], Poland [44], South Korea [45], Taiwan [46], the United Kingdom [47] and the United States [48]. The vacuum performance of a HTP hybrid rocket motor has been demonstrated experimentally with a combustion efficiency of approximately 98% [49].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nammo's Nucleus utilizes 87.5% HTP with a silver catalyst bed and HTPB-based fuel and was flown in 2018. Its maiden flight reached an altitude of 107 km [43]. While these advances stimulated further work on small launch vehicles using hybrid HTP stages [43,64], such concepts were already proposed earlier [65][66][67][68] and thrust ranges tested in the United States in around 1950 also considered the use of HTP hybrids in large vehicles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its maiden flight reached an altitude of 107 km [43]. While these advances stimulated further work on small launch vehicles using hybrid HTP stages [43,64], such concepts were already proposed earlier [65][66][67][68] and thrust ranges tested in the United States in around 1950 also considered the use of HTP hybrids in large vehicles. As for nowadays, the Australian company Gilmour Space Technologies develops HTP hybrids [36] with thrust up to 91 kN-demonstrated during a single port motor firing in early 2021 [69].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of Green Storable Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Technology Using 98% Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidizer

et al. 2021

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This paper presents the development of indigenous hybrid rocket technology, using 98% hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer. Consecutive steps are presented, which started with interest in hydrogen peroxide and the development of technology to obtain High Test Peroxide, finally allowing concentrations of up to 99.99% to be obtained in-house. Hydrogen peroxide of 98% concentration (mass-wise) was selected as the workhorse for further space propulsion and space transportation developments. Over the course nearly 10 years of the technology’s evolution, the Lukasiewicz Research Network—Institute of Aviation completed hundreds of subscale hybrid rocket motor and component tests. In 2017, the Institute presented the first vehicle in the world to have demonstrated in-flight utilization for 98% hydrogen peroxide. This was achieved by the ILR-33 AMBER suborbital rocket, which utilizes a hybrid rocket propulsion as the main stage. Since then, three successful consecutive flights of the vehicle have been performed, and flights to the Von Karman Line are planned. The hybrid rocket technology developments are described. Advances in hybrid fuel technology are shown, including the testing of fuel grains. Theoretical studies and sizing of hybrid propulsion systems for spacecraft, sounding rockets and small launch vehicles have been performed, and planned further developments are discussed.

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Hydrogen peroxide—a promising oxidizer for rocket engines: physical and chemical properties: decomposition in the liquid phase

Levikhin,

Boryaev

2024

Adsorption

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Development of the Nucleus Hybrid Propulsion System: Enabling A Successful Flight Demonstration

Cited by 4 publications

References 1 publication

Hybrid Rockets as Post-Boost Stages and Kick Motors

Hybrid Rockets as Post-Boost Stages and Kick Motors

Development of Green Storable Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Technology Using 98% Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidizer

Hydrogen peroxide—a promising oxidizer for rocket engines: physical and chemical properties: decomposition in the liquid phase

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