Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
SpaceDev has been given three additional contracts from the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the state of California to support further development of its hybrid rocket motor technology.
Under two NRO contracts, each worth over $400,000, and a $105,000 award from the California Space & Technology Alliance, SpaceDev will perform hybrid motor test firings beginning later this year. Hybrid motors combine solid fuel with liquid oxidiser and are both storable and restartable. SpaceDev is developing a range of orbital manoeuvring and transfer vehicles (MATVs) using hybrid propulsion systems.
The company, based in Poway, California, is working on three MATV designs, ranging in thrust from 25kg (55lb) to 100kg, intended to be carried as secondary payloads on current expendable launch vehicles.
The NRO's interest is in a secondary payload orbital transfer vehicle (SPOTV) which could be launched on demand, or stored in orbit until required, and manoeuvred to inspect - or to move, refuel, repair or de-orbit - a satellite.
SpaceDev completed preliminary system design definition for the SPOTV under a previous NRO contract. The latest contracts include studies of mission applications for the vehicle.
The NRO is also funding the ground demonstration of a small hybrid motor. Initial tests are planned for October/November, and will be followed in February/ March next year by a demonstration of up to four restarts.
The small motor to be tested uses Plexiglas as the solid fuel and nitrous oxide (NOx) as the liquid oxidiser. A starter heats the fuel to a temperature at which it ignites spontaneously when the oxidiser is introduced. Stopping the flow of NOx shuts off the motor. NOx is self-pressurising, and the only moving part in the motor is a valve, says SpaceDev.
Meanwhile, the company has received a $200,000 grant from California's Western Commercial Space Center to help complete its space assembly and test (SAT) facility, where MATVs and other spacecraft will be manufactured. The SAT is expected to be operational by the end of this year.
Source: Flight International
