IGF::OT::IGF SIENNA TECHNOLOGIES, INC, PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A ROBUST, LONG LIFE, CATALYTICALLY IGNITED THRUSTER THAT CAN PERFORM MULTIPLE COLD STARTS AT LOW PREHEAT TEMPERATURES (<<425 C) USING HIGH PERFORMANCE GREEN AF-M315E MONOPROPELLANT THAT CAN PROVIDE A RANGE OF MISSION SPECIFIC THRUST LEVELS FOR NASA SMD'S SAMPLE RETURN MISSIONS. IN PHASE I WE WILL IMPROVE UPON SIENNA'S INDUSTRY LEADING SSC-111 CATALYST AND DEMONSTRATE ITS MULTIPLE COLD START CAPABILITY AT LOW PREHEAT TEMPERATURES (WELL BELOW STATE-OF-THE-ART 425 C) IN SEA-LEVEL LABORATORY TESTS.
IGF::OT::IGF PRESENT AND FUTURE NASA MISSIONS, INCLUDING THE ASTEROID REDIRECT MISSION AND EFFICIENT CARGO DELIVERY TO MARS, REQUIRE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN LIFETIME FOR ION ENGINES AND HALL THRUSTERS. THIS HAS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LONG-LIFE LANTHANUM HEXABORIDE (LAB6) HOLLOW CATHODE EMITTERS, WHICH OPERATE AT TEMPERATURES>1600?C. CURRENT STATE-OF-THE-ART CO-AXIAL SWAGED CATHODE HEATERS USE MAGNESIUM OXIDE (MGO) INSULATORS, WHICH EXPERIENCE A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN INSULATION RESISTANCE AT TEMPERATURES OF 1300?C, CAUSING HEATER FAILURE. HOLLOW CATHODE FAILURE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF AN EXTERNAL CATHODE HEATER IS THE SINGLE MOST CRITICAL EVENT THAT CONTROLS THE THRUSTER LIFETIME. WHILE ALUMINA (AL2O3) HAS RECENTLY BEEN USED AS A REPLACEMENT INSULATOR MATERIAL, IT HAS QUESTIONABLE RELIABILITY DUE TO GRAIN GROWTH AND VOID FORMATION AT TEMPERATURES>1600?C. IN PHASE I, WE WILL FORMULATE A NEW CERAMIC INSULATOR USING SOUND SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES, AND DEVELOP A LONG-LIFE CATHODE HEATER THAT CAN OPERATE RELIABLY AT HIGH POWER LEVELS (>200 W) AT HIGH TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 1600?C FOR USE IN LONG DURATION SPACE PROPULSION MISSIONS. WE WILL DESIGN, FABRICATE AND TEST PROTOTYPE SWAGED COAXIAL HEATERS TO DEMONSTRATE THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW INSULATORS.
IGF::OT::IGF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVANCED GREEN MONOPROPELLANT PROPULSION SYSTEM COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO A WIDE RANGE OF NASA SPACE MISSIONS, FROM DEEP SPACE SATELLITES TO MANNED SPACE VEHICLES. HOWEVER, THE STATE-OF-THE-ART THRUSTER MATERIALS, REFRACTORY METALS, CANNOT WITHSTAND AF-M315E COMBUSTION ENVIRONMENT AT TEMPERATURES OF>2000?C WITHOUT LOOSING THEIR MECHANICAL INTEGRITY. SIENNA TECHNOLOGIES, INC, IN COLLABORATION WITH MOOG-ISP, PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A REVOLUTIONARY REFRACTORY METAL-CERAMIC FGM MATERIAL AND AN AF-M315E ADVANCED GREEN MONOPROPELLANT THRUSTER. IN PHASE I WE WILL DEMONSTRATE A REFRACTORY METAL-CERAMIC FGM THROUGH MATERIALS DESIGN AND MICROSTRUCTURAL CONTROL THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THRUST CHAMBER FOR AF-M315E MONOPROPELLANT. IN PHASE II WE WILL FINE-TUNE THE FGM MATERIAL PROPERTIES TO MAXIMIZE THE MECHANICAL STRENGTH AND THERMOCHEMICAL STABILITY; AND DESIGN, FABRICATE, AND TEST A WORKING FGM THRUSTER IN COLLABORATION WITH MOOG-ISP.