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