Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron:

970094

Proposal

Number:

19.04-5249

Project Title:

Catalysts and Catalytic Thermal Bed

Materials for HAN-based

Monopropellants

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

There are currently several hundred active

satellites in orbit, at least half of which use

hydrazine monopropellant. In addition, every year

approximately 20 upper stages use hydrazine

monopropellant for roll control and propellant

settling maneuvers prior to orbit insertion burns.

There has been increasing concern about toxicity of

hydrazine(s). Safety regulations have been

tightened to the point where fueling has become a

significant part of the overall cost of a spacecraft

launch. Nontoxic monopropellants as replacement

for hydrazine promise faster and more economical

fueling operations, resulting in lower life-cycle cost.

Nontoxic monopropellants would also enhance the

safety of future manned spacecraft such as the

Crew Return Vehicle. This SBIR proposal is in

response to NASA SBIR solicitation 97-1 which

under subtopic 19.04 calls for "High performance

monopropellants for small spacecraft applications.

Included in this area are ignition techniques for

these propellants that will meet the severe duty

cycle requirements of on-orbit propulsion

functions." The catalysts proposed here are the

most reproducible ignition technique and promise to

achieve the same reliability as that already

demonstrated with hydrazine thrusters. The product

of this SBIR has near-term applicability to NASA

and ties in directly with nontoxic propellant thruster

development in progress at NASA contractors.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

More than half of all U. S. satellites launched

between 1987 and 1997 were for commercial

applications. All U. S. launch vehicle upper stages

such as Delta II, ATLAS-II, LMLV or PEGASUS

are built by commercial launch service providers. In

most cases hydrazine monopropellant can be

replaced by a nontoxic monopropellant with

resulting cost-saving benefits that would be passed

on to customers like NASA and other branches of

the U. S. Government. In a few cases, it may be

possible to substitute existing systems with a

drop-in replacement using a nontoxic propellant.

The potential market for the catalyst to be

developed under this SBIR and its Phase II and

Phase III follow-on contracts is the same as that for

Shell 405. The material may eventually replace

Shell 405 in all monopropellant thruster and gas

generator applications.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

Dr. Eckart W. Schmidt

Dr. Eckart W. Schmidt, Consultant, HazMat

55 - 151st Place N. E.

Bellevue , WA 98007-5019

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

Dr. Eckart W. Schmidt

Dr. Eckart W. Schmidt, Consultant, HazMat

55 - 151st Place N. E.

Bellevue , WA 98007-5019