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Advanced Hybrid Rocket Motor
Title: Principal Investigator
Phone: (608) 229-2734
Email: gramerd@orbitec.com
Title: President & CEO
Phone: (608) 229-2730
Email: koffarnusl@orbitec.com
ORBITEC proposes to develop MAELSTROM, an advanced hybrid rocket motor, to meet the demands of highly flexible boost propulsion for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense applications. Key MAELSTROM features include: versatile energy management, high propulsive performance, inherent safety of a hybrid, non-toxic and insensitive propellants, and a long-term storable system. MAELSTROM combines four ORBITEC innovations: (1) an aluminized patented vortex-injected hybrid motor, (2) a dual-mode oxidizer injection system, (3) a patented MIRRAS surface regression sensor, and (4) an intelligent closed-loop oxidizer control system. The vortex injector generates a coaxial, bi-directional flow field that drives extremely high solid-fuel regression rates, allowing for short, compact fuel grain design. The high surface heat fluxes and serpentine flow path enables efficient combustion of high-energy metals. A second, conventional oxidizer injector located at the head-end of the grain provides both mixture ratio control and deep throttling capability. MIRRAS regression rate sensors provide feedback to the closed-loop oxidizer controller to achieve precise mission management. The proposed Phase I activities include modeling, design, a comprehensive hot fire test program, and detailed data reduction, with a focus on demonstrating a high-performance and versatile propulsion technology. Phase II will validate a full-scale prototype MAELSTROM motor for delivery to MDA.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *