The Boeing Company

Aerojet Rocketdyne of De, Inc.

Jeff Jensen

Jeffrey A Mays

Kevin A Lohner

Kathleen M Sevener

Scott Claflin

An ignition system and method of igniting the ignition system includes a main catalyst section in a staged relationship with a pilot-catalyst section to stage a decomposition though the pilot-catalyst section which preheats the main catalyst section.

Igniter/thruster with catalytic decomposition chamber

A robust, high temperature mixed metal oxide catalyst for propellant composition, including high concentration hydrogen peroxide, and catalytic combustion, including methane air mixtures. The uses include target, space, and on-orbit propulsion systems and low-emission terrestrial power and gas generation. The catalyst system requires no special preheat apparatus or special sequencing to meet start-up requirements, enabling a fast overall response time. Start-up transients of less than 1 second have been demonstrated with catalyst bed and propellant temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The catalyst system has consistently demonstrated high decomposition effeciency, extremely low decomposition roughness, and long operating life on multiple test particles.

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Reseda, CA, United States of America

Jeff Jensen