Developing cryogenic solid rocket motor technology for space propulsion

Under the sponsorship of the German Aerospace Center DLR, Cryogenic Solid Propulsion (CSP) is now in its 4th year of R&D, The development proceeds as a joint international university-, small business-, space industry- and professional research effort (Berlin University of Technology / Aerospace Institute, Berlin / Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Russia / ASTRIUM GmbH, Bremen / Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology, Berghausen). It aims at introducing CSPs as a novel type of chemical propellant that uses frozen liquids in modular solid rocket motors. CSPs thrive at once on the high performance levels of liquid propulsion and the simplicity and reliability of solid rocket motors. High performance, low cost, low pollution CSP technology could bring about a near term revolution for chemical Earth-to-orbit boosters and other high thrust propulsion. In the long run it could easily surpass conventional chemical propulsion because it is better suited for applying high energy density matter than any other mode of propulsion.