Spacedev, Inc.

Frank Macklin

Chris Grainger

Jim Benson

Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn

Grant Williams

Marti Sarigul-Klijn

A hybrid rocket motor includes a supply of oxidizer, a first solid fuel element positioned around the supply of oxidizer, a second solid fuel element positioned concentrically around the first solid fuel element, and a combustion port positioned between the first and second solid fuel elements. The oxidizer interacts with the first and second solid fuel elements within the combustion port to produce a combustion product. A nozzle is in communication with the combustion port for combustion discharge of the combustion product.

Hybrid rocket motor with annular, concentric solid fuel elements

Disclosed is a propulsion system having a structural configuration that provides easy and convenient access to the interior regions of a liquid fuel tank and a hybrid rocket motor case. In one embodiment, the propulsion system comprises: a hybrid rocket motor case and a fuel tank coupled to the hybrid motor case. The motor case is configured to hold solid rocket fuel and the fuel tank defines an internal volume configured to hold a fluid oxidizer. A bulkhead is interposed between the motor case and the fuel tank, wherein at least one access passageway extends through the bulkhead. The access passageway provides exterior access to the interior volume of the motor case or the internal volume of the storage tank while the hybrid rocket motor is coupled to the fuel tank.

Hybrid propulsion system

Disclosed is a propulsion system having a structural configuration that provides easy and convenient access to the interior regions of a liquid fuel tank and a hybrid rocket motor case. The system operates with a high oxidizer-to-fuel ratio and a high bulk density propellant combination that has a near uniform specific impulse over a large oxidizer-to-fuel ratio range. The system has an increased propellant mass fraction and reduced propellant residuals. This improves the performance of the hybrid propulsion system.

High propulsion mass fraction hybrid propellant system

Disclosed is a propulsion system for a spacecraft. The propulsion system includes a supply of oxidizer and at least one nozzle. A conduit fluidly couples the supply of oxidizer and the nozzle. The conduit provides a pathway for oxidizer to flow in a downstream direction from the supply of oxidizer toward and into the nozzle. A pressure regulator is coupled to the conduit and is interposed between the supply of oxidizer and the nozzle, wherein the pressure regulator regulates the pressure of oxidizer flowing through the conduit and downstream of the pressure regulator to a pressure at or below the pressure required to maintain the oxidizer in a gas state to ensure that the any oxidizer flowing through the conduit is in a gas state prior to entering the nozzle. The conduit supplies oxidizer from the supply of oxidizer to a hybrid rocket motor.

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Poway, CA, United States of America

Frank Macklin