NOFBX™ Monopropulsion

Develop high performance, monopropellant blend(s) (NOFBX™) that is/are low cost, non-toxic, self-pressurizing, and deep-space-storable. Develop NOFBX™ fluid regulation systems with redundant anti-flashback inhibits. Develop robust, high temperature gas generator cores and rocket thruster designs that can be operated over >10x dynamic range of thrust and in short pulse or continuous thrust modes.

NOFBXTM 100 lbf Robust Gas/Two-Phase/Liquid Feed, Highly Throttle-able Continuous and/or Pulse Mode Vacuum Thruster (In Current Development) NOFBXTM 25 lbf Gas/Two-Phase/Liquid Thruster
NOFBXTM 5 lbf Regen-Cooled Liquid Thruster
NOFBXTM 2 lbf Hi-Temp Liner Thruster

Principal Investigators:

Greg Mungas, David Fisher

Technology Updates:

Demonstrated complex thruster design, characterized monopropellant specific impulse, characterized monopropellant physical properties, and defined ground handling safety procedures.

• Baseline propulsion option for Odyssey Space Research’s Altair (Lunar Lander Module) ascent main engine, descent stage RCS thrusters, and ascent stage RCS thrusters.

• NASA 2008-2010 Phase I/II SBIR development of NOFBX™ 25 - 100 lbf class engines for manned program ACS engines and scaled down test engines for future ascent stage engine testing.

• Completed 2008 NOFBX™ thruster exhaust plume interaction study with simulated Europa ice for feasibility study of a soft land Europa scientific probe (funded through Arizona State University).

• Completed 2005-2007 NASA Mars Advanced Technology Program award in Low Cost propulsion technologies (NASA NOFBOBS). Under this program the NOFBX™ monopropellants were invented, developed, and characterized for use in rocket thruster and power applications. In addition, preliminary NOFBX™ feed system hardware and breadboard NOFBX™ rocket thrusters have been demonstrated.

Patents:

-Six Patents Pending

Publications:

G.S. Mungas, D.J. Fisher, M. Johnson, B. Rishikof, NOFBX Monopropulsion System for Lunar Ascent Vehicle Utilizing Plug Nozzle Ascent Engine. Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force Interagency Propulsion Conference (JANNAF), LPS-II-33, CPIA/JHU, Colombia, MD (Dec 2008).

G.S. Mungas, D.J. Fisher, C.B. Mungas, B. Carryer, NOFBX Monopropellants – Background, Characterization, and Testing. Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force Interagency Propulsion Conference (JANNAF), SPS-I-11, CPIA/JHU, Colombia, MD (Dec 2008).

Note:

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