Tag Archives: propellant grain loading

MTA Firing Event, 2022-11-12

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by Jim Gross, Reaction Research Society

The RRS hosted the University of Southern California (USC) Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (RPL) from Friday, 11/11, to Sunday, 11/13/2022 for a static firing of their latest experimental class, solid propellant motor design, Firebiter. I was the pyrotechnic operator in charge with Keith Yoerg and Michael Rouleau apprenticing.

USC firing campaign logos keep getting better and better

Back in September, USC completed a series of test grain burns which gave valuable regression factors necessary for their full 6-inch scale solid motor.

Borrowing from painful past experiences, USC RPL under their team leader, Julia Woomer, found a good compromise between stability and performance as evidenced by their hotfire on Sunday just three minutes before noon.

USC RPL demonstrated a good motor at the RRS Mojave Test Area

The RRS has had a long successful relationship with USC for over a decade. USC will prepare another full-scale motor for flight soon.