A Comparison of Low Acid Solid Propellant Formulations
- Paper ID
IAF-92-0637
- author
- company
Thiokol Corporation, Space Operations
- country
U.S.A.
- year
1992
- abstract
The potential environmental effects of conventional rocket propellants have been assessed by various groups. Areas of concern have included stratospheric ozone, acid rain, toxicity, air quality and global warming. An AIAA workshop held in June 1991 has reported its findings on the atmospheric effects of current space launch systems. The workshop report concluded that while the atmospheric impacts of rocket use are extremely small, there are propellant development options which have the potential to reduce those impacts even further. This paper discusses the various solid propellant options which have been proposed as being more environmentally benign than current systems. These options include acid neutralized or scavenged propellants, non-chlorine propellants, and reduced chlorine energetic propellants. Representative examples of low-acid propellant options are considered with respect to system performance, ballistic properties, mechanical properties, hazards, long-term stabi lity, level of maturity, manufacturing. Preliminary conclusions for these trades are that none of the options can maintain system performance (i.e., payload capability) in a currently configured RSRM without violating potential safety and energetics guidelines. Of the propellants considered, the AP containing low-acid formulations are the most feasible for near-term replacement, but may not satisfy all environmental concerns. The non- chlorine propellants, while being more environmentally benign, suffer from performance limitations and technical uncertainties, making implementation of these questionable in the near future.