Non-Toxic Post Boost Stage Demonstration

A non-toxic Post Boost Stage(PBS) with LOX/Ethanol engine was successfully demonstrated at the Tomioka Facility of IHI Aerospace. IHI Aerospace has researched and developed the nontoxic propulsion systems and the LOX/Ethanol is one of the most attractive non-toxic bipropellant candidates. ${\rho}ISP$ of LOX/Ethanol is higher than ${\rho}ISP$ of the other non-toxic bipropellants as LOX/HC or $LOX/LH_2$. The authors studied the combustion characteristics of LOX/Ethanol propellant with the engine designed for LOX/LNG propellant. Also the injector with a built-in igniter was designed and examined its feasibility, ignition and combustion characteristics. We have demonstrated Post Boost Stage with future LOX/Ethanol engines. This propulsion system is targeted for expandable vehicle upper stage to accelerate delta-V to reach the required orbit. PBS Demonstration Model is designed as a test stand to evaluate feed system for integrated propulsion system and also to demonstrate Integrated Vehicle Health Management(IVHM) technique using local valve control and also valve behavior-monitoring capability.