HAN-based monopropellant assessment for spacecraft

Abstract

The growing cost of space missions, the need for increased mission performance, and concerns associated with environmental issues are changing rocket design and propellant selection criteria. Whereas a propellant's performance was once defined solely in terms of specific impulse and density, now environmental safety, operability, and cost are considered key drivers. Present emphasis on these considerations has heightened government and commercial launch sector interest in Hydroxylammonium Nitrate (HAN)-based liquid propellants as options to provide simple, safe, reliable, low cost, and high performance monopropellant systems.