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Rocket Motor 2 Hot-Fire Test Summaries


Many subscale hot-firings were performed at Scaled Composites between Jun 05 and April 09 to evaluate several different fuels, igniters, injectors, insulators and nozzle configurations, as well as other components and parameters.

Based on the results of those subscale firings, the Scaled/SNC team chose a full-scale rocket motor system design and began testing in April, 2009.

The following list includes summaries of the hot-fire activity of the Rocket Motor Two rockets.

Fire: 01
Date: 20 April 09
Objectives:        
Perform first full scale RM2 hot-fire with first generation design. Test stand evaluation. Rocket system evaluation. Igniter evaluation. Data Acquisition system evaluation. Fuel formulation evaluation. Nozzle evaluation. CTN structural evaluation.
Results:
All objectives completed. Performed successful hot-fire, including oxidizer flow and pressurization systems, data acquisition system, igniter performance measurements, structural evaluation, nozzle ablation, and fuel regression rate data collection.

Fire: 02
Date: 06 May 09
Objectives:        
Perform second full scale RM2 hot-fire with first generation design - different fuel. Continued Rocket system evaluation. Igniter evaluation. Data Acquisition system evaluation. Fuel formulation evaluation. Nozzle evaluation. CTN structural evaluation.
Results:
All objectives completed. Performed successful hot-fire, including oxidizer flow and pressurization systems, data acquisition system, igniter performance measurements, structural evaluation, nozzle ablation, and fuel regression rate data collection. Determined stability levels. Preliminary fuel performance in line with predictions.

Fire: 03
Date: 20 May 09
Objectives:        
Perform third full scale RM2 hot-fire with first generation design - same fuel as HF02. Continued Rocket system evaluation. Igniter evaluation. Data Acquisition system evaluation. Fuel formulation evaluation. Nozzle evaluation. CTN structural evaluation.
Results:
All objectives completed. Performed successful hot-fire, including oxidizer flow and pressurization systems, data acquisition system, igniter performance measurements, structural evaluation, nozzle ablation, and fuel regression rate data collection. Determined stability levels.