Green Monopropellant Propulsion System
Aerojet Rocketdyne is supplying a green monopropellant propulsion system for the Ball Aerospace Green Propulsion Infusion Mission (GPIM) which is funded by NASA.
The propellant is AF-M315E and was developed by AFRL/Edwards AFB. This mission represents the first flight for this new propellant. This propellant is very safe–it has no measurable vapor pressure (no detection at 2-3 parts per billion (ppb) level with testing at NASA White Sands Facility). This propellant offers a 50 percent increase in density-Isp compared to the current industry standard – hydrazine. AF-M315E is applicable to a wide range of Aerojet Rocketdyne product lines: Space, Missile Defense, Strategic Systems.
This will be the first space demonstration of AF-M315E propulsion for: In-space ACS, In-space primary propulsion and launch vehicle RCS (ground demo). Both 1 N (0.2 lbf) and 22N (5lbf) thrusters will be demonstrated. Launch is scheduled for 2016.