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Highlights of Solid Rocket Propulsion History

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Chemical Rocket Propulsion

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Abstract

The history of solid rocket propulsion covers a span of more than 2000 years, starting in China with the accidental discovery of black powder (or something similar) around 220 BC ca and continuing up to the current days. It is an interesting route that the idea of black (or gun) powder traveled: moving from East China to Korea, India, Arab countries, Europe, and finally the USA. Extensive Mongolian raids and land as well as sea trade routes were the main avenues, for this slow but continuous move westward then covering the whole planet. Fireworks and military operations were the main drivers, without forgetting the first reckless attempt of space travel by a Chinese astronaut in 1500 ca. However, black powder should only be seen as a precursor of solid propellants. In spite of the previous large-scale activity, the transition toward modern solid rocket propulsion actually occurred at two quite distinct focal points in space and time: Caltech, Pasadena, CA, during the period 1936–1944 and the Institute of Chemical Physics, Moscow, Russia, during the period 1960–1980. In both cases, the interplay of great minds and the assignment of precise objectives triggered tremendous scientific progress, but without a successive well-organized strategic planning, this spark would have gone in vain.

Since the US side of the story is quite well known, chapters “Survey of Solid Rocket Propulsion in Russia” to “The Russian Missile Saga: Personal Notes from a Direct Participant” are dedicated to an historical survey mainly of the Russian developments in solid rocket propulsion. This particular contribution is included to put things in the right overall perspective.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    There is no conclusive evidence of “black powder” in China, and probably this historical invention was rather a mixture based on nitrates, which Chinese used in pyrotechnic devices, arrowthrowers, and rockets. The real invention of black powder is shrouded in mystery [PengFei Li, IASPEP Conference, Qingdao, China, 17 Sep 2015].

Abbreviations

AD:

Anno Domini

ADN:

Ammonium DiNitramide

AFOSR:

Air Force Office of Scientific Research

AP:

Ammonium Perchlorate

ARC:

Atlantic Research Corporation

ATK:

Alliant Techsystems Inc.

BC:

Before Christ

ca:

circa

CalTech:

CALifornia institute of TEChnology

CDB:

Cast Double-Base

CL-20:

2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane

CMDB:

Composite Modified Double-Base

CTPB:

Carboxyl-Terminated PolyButadiene

DB:

Double-Base

EDB:

Extruded Double-Base

EMCDB:

Elastomer Modified Cast Double-Base

ERL:

Explosive Research Laboratory

ESD:

ElectroStatic Discharge

GALCIT:

Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory at California Institute of Technology

HDI:

Hexane diisocyanate

HEDM:

High-Energy Density Material

HMX:

cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine, High Melting Explosive (also known as Octogen, Her Majesty’s Explosive)

HTPB:

Hydroxyl-Terminated PolyButadiene

HTPE:

Hydroxyl-Terminated PolyEther

IASPEP:

International Autumn Seminar On Propellants, Explosives and Pyrotechnics

ICBM:

InterContinental Ballistic Missile

IRBM:

Ballistic Missile

ICP:

Institute of Chemical Physics

IM:

Insensitive Munitions

JATO:

Jet Assisted Intermediate Range Take Off

JPL:

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

KP:

Potassium Perchlorate

LRE:

Liquid Rocket Engine

NASA:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

N:

The first operational Russian Double-Base propellant

NC:

NitroCellulose

NEPE:

Nitrate Ester Plasticized polyEther (or Nitrate Ester PolyEther)

NG:

NitroGlycerine

OB:

Oxygen Balance

PBAA:

PolyButadiene Acrylic Acid

PBAN:

PolyButadiene acrylic acid AcryloNitrile

PEG:

PolyoxyEthylene Glycol

PETN:

PentaErythritol Tetra Nitrate

PGA:

PolyGlycol Adipate

PTFE:

PolyTetraFluoroEthylene

PU:

Polyurethane

PVC:

PolyVinyl Chloride

RDX:

cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, Research Department explosive (also known as Hexogen, Cyclonite, T4, Royal Demolition Explosive)

SP:

Solid Propellant

SRB:

Solid Rocket Booster

SRM:

Solid Rocket Motor

USA:

United States of America

USSR:

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

V2:

Vergeltungswaffe 2, the German long range missile used at the end of World War 2.

XLDB:

Cross-Linked Double-Base

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to sincerely thank Dr. Shalini Anand, Prof. Vladimir A. Arkhipov, Prof. Adam S. Cumming, Dr. Ronald L. Derr, Prof. PengFei Li, and Dr. Anthony P. Manzara for their valuable inputs in the compilation of this chapter.

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  1. Space Propulsion Laboratory (SPLab), Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, 20156, Milan, Italy

    Luigi T. DeLuca

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  1. Luigi T. DeLuca
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Correspondence to Luigi T. DeLuca .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Space Propulsion Laboratory (SPLab) Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Luigi T. De Luca

  2. Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Sagamihara, Japan

    Toru Shimada

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Moscow, Russia

    Valery P. Sinditskii

  4. The Inner Arch, Poissy, France

    Max Calabro

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DeLuca, L.T. (2017). Highlights of Solid Rocket Propulsion History. In: De Luca, L., Shimada, T., Sinditskii, V., Calabro, M. (eds) Chemical Rocket Propulsion. Springer Aerospace Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27748-6_42

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27748-6_42

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