TECHNICAL SEMINAR PRESENTATION

ON
“ADVANCED ROCKET MOTORS”

POOJA B R 4MH21ME029

Under the guidance of

Prof. Abhilash M
Assistant Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering,

MIT-MYSORE
 CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION

 NEED FOR ADVANCED ROCKET MOTORS

 OBJECTIVES

 TECHNOLOGY USED

 TYPES OF ROCKET MOTOR

 SOLID ROCKET MOTOR

 STRUCTURE AND WORKING PRINCIPLE

 ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS

 APPLICATIONS

 EXAMPLES

 CASE STUDY

 CONCLUSION
 INTRODUCTION
What are Rocket Motors?

 A rocket motor is a propulsion device that generates thrust by expelling high-speed exhaust gases.
 It carries both fuel and oxidizer, allowing it to operate in space where there is no atmospheric
oxygen.
 It Works on Newton’s Third Law of Motion (Action = Reaction)

Advanced Rocket Motor

An Advanced Rocket Motor is a next-generation propulsion system designed to enhance
performance, efficiency, and reliability in space and defense applications.
 NEED FOR ADVANCED ROCKET MOTOR

1.Increased Performance & Efficiency: Advanced rocket motors provide higher thrust, better
fuel efficiency, and improved payload capacity for space and defense applications.
2.Reusability & Cost Reduction: Modern designs focus on reusable components, lowering
launch costs and making space exploration more economical.
3.Enhanced Safety & Reliability: Advanced materials and smart monitoring systems reduce
the risk of failures and improve overall mission success rates.
4.Support for Deep Space Exploration: Cutting-edge propulsion technologies enable longer
missions to Mars, the Moon, and beyond with greater efficiency.
 OBJECTIVES

1.Enhance Thrust & Efficiency: Develop propulsion systems that maximize thrust while
optimizing fuel consumption for better performance.
2.Improve Reliability & Safety: Use advanced materials and real-time monitoring to ensure safe
and consistent operation in extreme conditions.
3.Enable Reusability & Cost Reduction: Design motors with reusable components to lower
overall mission costs and improve sustainability.
4.Support Deep Space & Defense Missions: Develop high-performance propulsion for space
exploration, satellite launches, and military applications.
TECHNOLOGY USED ADVANCED ROCKET MOTOR

1.High-Energy Propellants: Uses advanced solid, liquid, or hybrid propellants, including

cryogenic fuels, metalized fuels, and green propellants for improved efficiency.
2.Lightweight & Heat-Resistant Materials: Incorporates carbon composites, ceramics, and
alloys to withstand extreme temperatures and reduce weight.
3.Advanced Thrust Vector Control (TVC): Enables precise maneuvering and stability using
actuators, gimbals, or fluid injection systems.
4.Smart Monitoring & Guidance Systems: Integrates AI-driven diagnostics, real-time telemetry,
and adaptive control for enhanced safety and performance.
5.Reusable & Additive Manufacturing Technology: Utilizes 3D printing and modular designs to
create cost-effective, reusable rocket motors.
 TYPES OF ROCKET MOTORS

•Solid Rocket Motor (SRM): Uses a solid propellant mixture of fuel and oxidizer. Simple,
reliable, and widely used in missiles and boosters (e.g., Space Shuttle SRBs).
•Liquid Rocket Motor (LRM): Uses liquid fuel and oxidizer stored separately, offering
better control and restart capability (e.g., SpaceX Falcon 9, Saturn V).
•Hybrid Rocket Motor: Combines a solid fuel with a liquid or gaseous oxidizer, balancing
simplicity and controllability (e.g., SpaceShipOne).
 SOLID ROCKET MOTOR

 A solid rocket motor uses a pre-mixed solid propellant containing both fuel and oxidizer.

 Once ignited, it burns continuously until all the propellant is consumed, generating sustained thrust.

 It has no moving parts, making it highly reliable, easy to store, and low maintenance.

 Commonly used in missiles, space launch boosters, and emergency escape systems.
STRUCTURE AND WORKING PRINCIPLE
 STRUCTURE

 The casing is the outer shell that houses the propellant and withstands high internal pressure, made
of strong materials like steel, aluminum alloys, or carbon fiber composites.
 The propellant grain contains both fuel and oxidizer in a solid-state, with its shape determining the
burn rate and thrust output.
 The nozzle directs exhaust gases to produce thrust, featuring a converging section, throat, and
diverging section for supersonic acceleration.
 The igniter initiates combustion, using either pyrotechnic or electrical activation for reliable ignition.
 The seal prevents gas leaks, maintains pressure, and secures the nozzle to the casing for stability
during operation.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE

 Ignition Phase: The igniter activates, producing a flame that ignites the propellant grain, initiating a self-
sustaining combustion process.
 Combustion Phase: The propellant burns, generating high-pressure, high-temperature gases that build up
within the chamber to provide stable thrust.
 Gas Expansion and Thrust Generation: The hot gases pass through a De Laval nozzle, converting
pressure energy into kinetic energy, accelerating to supersonic speeds, and propelling the rocket forward.
 Burnout Phase: The propellant burns completely, and the rocket ceases thrust production, entering a
coasting or staging phase.
 Post-Burnout and Staging: In multi-stage rockets, the spent stage detaches to reduce weight, and the
next stage ignites to continue the mission efficiently.
 ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS

ADVANTAGES

 SRMs have a simple design with no moving parts, reducing mechanical failure risks and ensuring
reliable performance.
 They provide immediate full thrust upon ignition, making them ideal for time-sensitive missions.
 They can be stored for years without degradation, making them suitable for long-term military and
space applications.
 Their straightforward design lowers manufacturing and maintenance costs, making them a cost-
effective propulsion choice.
 SRMs function reliably in extreme environments, including space vacuum and harsh temperatures,
ensuring mission success.
 LIMITATIONS

 SRMs burn continuously once ignited, lacking the ability to throttle, restart, or shut down
mid-flight, limiting flexibility in mission control.
 SRMs are less fuel-efficient than liquid engines, requiring more propellant for the same
thrust, making them less suitable for deep-space missions.
 SRMs burn at a fixed rate, making precise maneuvering challenging and often requiring
additional thrusters for adjustments.
 Traditional SRMs release pollutants like hydrochloric acid and aluminum oxide,
contributing to atmospheric and environmental concerns.
 APPLICATIONS

 Missile and Defence Systems

 Space Launch Vehicles

 Anti-Satellite Weapons (ASATs)

 Commercial Satellite Launches

 Emergency Escape Systems

 EXAMPLES

 Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs)

 NASA’s SLS Solid Rocket Boosters

 PSLV Solid Rocket First Stage (S139 Motor)

 Mission Shakti ASAT Missile

 Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV)

 CASE STUDY

 NASA’s SLS solid rocket booster is an advanced

version of the space shuttle booster, incorporating
three decades of experience and modern technology.
 The SLS is the only rocket capable of launching the
Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and large cargo to the
Moon in a single mission.
 The boosters provide the necessary power to carry
heavier and larger payloads to deep space than any
previous rocket.
 This capability enables missions to distant
SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM SOLID
ROCKET BOOSTER destinations, including Mars, expanding human
exploration beyond the Moon.
SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER DETAILS

Length: 177 feet

Diameter: 12 feet

Weight: 1.6 million pounds each

Propellant: polybutadiene acrylonitrile (PBAN)

Thrust: 3.6 million pounds each

Operation time: 126 seconds

 FIVE-SEGMENT SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER

 The SLS booster is the most powerful solid propellant booster ever, standing 17 stories tall and
burning six tons of propellant per second, with each booster generating more thrust than 14
jumbo jets.
 Unlike the four-segment shuttle booster, the SLS booster has a fifth segment, enabling it to lift
more weight, and is designed for single use rather than reusability.
 Manufactured by Northrop Grumman, the booster motors are the largest component, made
from repurposed steel cases from shuttle flights and undergo rigorous inspections for flight
readiness.
The first booster motor segment for the Artemis IV flight was cast
with propellant Nov. 2, 2021.

Artemis I boosters and core stage in the Vehicle

Flight Support Booster-1 (FSB-1) underwent a hot fire in September Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in
2020 to evaluate materials and processes for future missions. Florida (side view).
 Booster components are assembled at Kennedy, with the forward skirt housing avionics
for monitoring and steering, while the aft skirt contains the thrust vector control system
for nozzle movement.
 Booster motors are transported by train, stacked on the Mobile Launcher, and connected
to the SLS core stage using braces before supporting the entire weight of the fueled
launch vehicle.
 After launch, the boosters fire for about two minutes before separating from the core
stage and landing in the Atlantic Ocean.
The aft assemblies of the Artemis The first Composite case wind for the Booster Obsolescence
I boosters on the mobile launcher and Life Extension (BOLE) Process simulation article is
in the Vertical Assembly Building complete
 CONCLUSION

 Advanced rocket motors enhance propulsion efficiency, reliability, and performance for space
exploration and defense applications.
 They incorporate modern materials, improved fuel compositions, and advanced engineering to
maximize thrust and fuel efficiency.
 Their design innovations enable higher payload capacities, better maneuverability, and
adaptability to extreme environments.
 Continued research and development in rocket motor technology will drive future advancements
in space travel, planetary exploration, and military applications.
THANK YOU.