Project description
Charging the way for small satellites
The future is bright for hybrid propulsion technology that can enable the flight of sounding rockets and small launchers. The EU-funded HyTeX project will explore the related fuel regression rate, the wax composition properties, and the engine performances and stability. An innovative wax manufacturing process will also be optimised. The results will pave the way for small satellites up to 500 kg with launchers based on a combination of novel and established technologies, using inherently safe hybrid propulsion (paraffin/LOX propellants). Up to now, hybrid engines have not benefited from large investments and research. This research fellowship aims at bringing hybrid propulsion from the current state of development to a fully mature technology.
Objective
The space industry is going through a transformational phase, creating unprecedented levels of growth for space and nonspace actors/industry. In the next years a significant increase in the market of small satellites up to 500 kg is expected. The HyImpulse start-up has been created recently and intends to bring to the market the key technologies for a game-changing, unique, low risk, innovative small launcher, with a 500 kg payload capability to LEO. The launcher will be based on a combination of novel and established technologies, using inherently safe hybrid propulsion (paraffin/LOX propellants). These engines combine a liquid oxidizer with a solid fuel thus enabling to benefit from both bi-liquid and solid technologies and advantages.
Unlike solid and liquid technologies, hybrid engines did not benefit from large investments and research in the past due to the inherent complex phenomena occurring into their combustion chamber. This is however changing with the new space constraints which make hybrid motors serious candidate for future applications. This research fellowship aims at bringing hybrid propulsion from the current state of development to a fully mature technology enabling the flight of sounding rockets and small launchers.
The action will allow the elaboration of novel measurement and analysis techniques to study the fuel regression rate, the wax composition properties & the engine performances and stability. In addition to the scientific investigations of complex and coupled phenomena occurring in the combustion chamber of a hybrid engine, an innovative wax manufacturing process will be optimised in collaboration with colleagues from HyImpulse. The most original aspect of the fellowship is the combination of scientific investigations of complex phenomena with innovative technical developments that are required to make hybrid propulsion technology competitive in the coming years.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineering
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyobservational astronomyx-ray astronomy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
74196 Neuenstadt Am Kocher
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.