A rocket motor propellant including a low molecular weight hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) polymer and, a high molecular weight isocyanate. In some implementations, a rocket motor propellant hereof is plasticizer free.

A solid rocket motor includes a propellant grain structure defining an axial bore and a vortex inducing feature.

A solid rocket motor includes a propellant grain structure defining an axial bore and a vortex inducing feature.

A method for manufacturing a solid propellant includes: forming a tool of layers of a first material wherein cuts in the layers form a first interior chamber in the tool; using the tool to mold a second material in the first interior chamber; removing the molded second material from the tool; using the molded second material to mold an interior chamber in a rocket propellant grain; and removing the molded second material from the rocket propellant grain.

A method for manufacturing a solid propellant includes: forming a tool of layers of a first material wherein cuts in the layers form a first interior chamber in the tool; using the tool to mold a second material in the first interior chamber; removing the molded second material from the tool; using the molded second material to mold an interior chamber in a rocket propellant grain; and removing the molded second material from the rocket propellant grain.

A solid propellant auxiliary booster intended to be attached to the main body of a launcher comprises a cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction between a rear face in communication with a nozzle and a front face formed by a conical structure connected to the cylindrical body of the booster. The cylindrical body delimits a first internal volume and the conical structure of the front face delimits a second internal volume. The auxiliary booster contains a solid propellant charge. The first internal volume of the cylindrical body communicates with the second internal volume of the conical structure. The solid propellant charge is present both in the first and second internal volumes.

A solid propellant auxiliary booster intended to be attached to the main body of a launcher comprises a cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction between a rear face in communication with a nozzle and a front face formed by a conical structure connected to the cylindrical body of the booster. The cylindrical body delimits a first internal volume and the conical structure of the front face delimits a second internal volume. The auxiliary booster contains a solid propellant charge. The first internal volume of the cylindrical body communicates with the second internal volume of the conical structure. The solid propellant charge is present both in the first and second internal volumes.

The present disclosure relates to a dismantleable mandrel assembly and a method of molding solid propellant grains with deep fin cavities whose major transverse dimensions are larger than casing opening dimensions in a monolithic rocket motor. The mandrel assembly comprises a base mandrel, a core mandrel insertable into the base mandrel and a plurality of fin molds attachable onto the base mandrel in a circular pattern about the motor axis. The plurality of longitudinal fin cavities is configured with forward swept leading and trailing edges. The manufacturing technique involves assembling and disassembling the mandrel components before propellant casting and after propellant curing respectively in a specific sequence. With minimum number of components and critical joints the method assures reduced quantum of explosive hazard in propellant grain manufacturing for high performance solid rocket motors.

The present disclosure relates to a dismantleable mandrel assembly and a method of molding solid propellant grains with deep fin cavities whose major transverse dimensions are larger than casing opening dimensions in a monolithic rocket motor. The mandrel assembly comprises a base mandrel, a core mandrel insertable into the base mandrel and a plurality of fin molds attachable onto the base mandrel in a circular pattern about the motor axis. The plurality of longitudinal fin cavities is configured with forward swept leading and trailing edges. The manufacturing technique involves assembling and disassembling the mandrel components before propellant casting and after propellant curing respectively in a specific sequence. With minimum number of components and critical joints the method assures reduced quantum of explosive hazard in propellant grain manufacturing for high performance solid rocket motors.

Electrically operated propellant is used to supplement the thrust provided by solid rocket motor (SRM) propellant to manage thrust produced by a SRM. The gas produced by burning the electrically operated propellant may be injected upstream of the nozzle to add mass and increase chamber pressure Pc, injected at the throat of the nozzle to reduce the effect throat area At to increase chamber pressure Pc or injected downstream of the throat to provide thrust vector control or a combination thereof. Certain types of electrically operated propellants can be turned on and off provided the chamber pressure Pc does not exceed a self-sustaining threshold pressure eliminating the requirement for physical control valves.