1. Pulsed Plasma Thruster Pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) are expected to be used as a thruster for a small satellite. The PPT has some features superior to other kinds of electric propulsion. It has no sealing part, simple structure and high reliability, which are benefits of using a solid propellant, mainly Teflon (poly-tetrafluoroethylene: PTFE). However, performances of PPTs are generally lo...

Two launch vehicle concepts based on technologies available today or in a short term future in Western Europe are presented. The design of both launchers has the goal of exploiting synergies with current European programs to limit development and operational costs. Technologies of particular interest here are the high performance solid rocket motors with carbon-epoxy filament wound monolithic m...

In this study an initial concept is described. This shows the possibility of connecting axially an ordinary jet engine, a ramjet engine and a scramjet engine. Furthermore rocket mode is also available in this design. The different modes can be changed by this integrated system as easily as the different modes, or nosecone stages can be changed by ordinary jet engines below and above the speed o...

Hybrid combustion technology has recently been employed in the sounding rocket developments to support the science experiments of academic applications and the establishment of a viable flight test platform for space components development. Due to its safety nature in material handling and combustion processes, hybrid rockets are suitable for university and research institute environments for a...

SCORES (SpaceCraft Object-oriented Rocket Engine Simulation) is an analysis tool being developed for conceptual-level spacecraft and launch vehicle design. Written in C++, SCORES provides rocket thrust and Isp for propulsion system trade studies. Common gateway interface scripts, written in Perl, provide an interface with the World Wide Web. The design parameters used in SCORES are mixture rati...