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Catalyst-Free, Highly-Throttleable, Electric Propulsion Thruster

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Air Force 		Award ID:
86936 		Program Year/Program:
2008 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
F081-065-0906 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Busek Co. Inc.
11 Tech Circle Natick, MA -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2008
Title: Catalyst-Free, Highly-Throttleable, Electric Propulsion Thruster
Agency / Branch: DOD / USAF
Contract: FA9300-08-M-3014
Award Amount: $99,989.00
 

Abstract:

The future of monopropellant thrusters is moving towards high performance green propellants based on hydroxyammonium nitrate (HAN) and ammonium dinitramide (ADN). Ideally, a multi mode propulsion system will include a higher specific impulse thruster for maneuvers that require propellant conservation to complement a higher thrust chemical thruster, with both thrusters utilizing the same propellant. We propose to develop an electric thruster that operates on almost any monopropellant, including hydrazine for near term missions, while maintaining high performance over a wide range of operation. The key to success is the elimination of the catalyst bed, shown to be a hindrance for both high performance (HAN, ADN) chemical thrusters and electric propulsion. Elimination of the cat bed should also increase the throttling capabilities of the electric propulsion engine. This catalyst-free thruster will also overcome thermal and life issues of the catalyst bed and allow for utilization of almost any propellant imagined. In Phase I we will demonstrate the operation of our electrically catalyzed thruster operating on a selected monopropellant. Key technologies include the liquid propellant injector and thruster starting. Pressure and temperature measurements will prove the success of our design.

Principal Investigator:

Kurt Hohman
Director, Electrothermal Thrusters
5086555565
kurt@busek.com

Business Contact:

Judy Budny
Contracts Administrator
5086555565
judy@busek.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

BUSEK CO., INC.
11 Tech Circle Natick, MA 01760

EIN/Tax ID: 042881247
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No