Solid rocket enabling technologies and milestones in the United States

The accomplishments of the U.S. solid rocket community are chronicled via discussion often enabling technologies and the people and organizations that produced them. This approach demonstrates the vibrant and advancing nature of solid rocket technology; to call it a history implies a recollection of something finished. The paper addresses key events and technology in a substantive manner by defining the major concepts (e.g., Pyrogen igniter, large case-bonded grains, composite cases, Flexseal TVC, extendible exit cone), new materials (e.g., carbon-carbon, Kevlar(R)) and the advances in tools (e.g., hazard tests, thermochemistry tables, and standard performance prediction packages) that were central to technological advancement. The paper chronicles how these keys enabled incredible advancements ranging from the 260-in. space booster to miniature multi-axis divert propulsion, systems. Space limitations prevent discussion of many interesting concepts tested but not fielded. In view of the companion paper by Alain Davenas, "The Development of Modern Solid Propellants" in this issue, this paper focuses on hardware advancements.