Feasibility of a single port Hybrid Propulsion system for a Mars Ascent Vehicle

Developments in hybrid propellants over the last decade make the hybrid motor a viable candidate and possibly an enabling technology for a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) as part of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. Fast regression rate fuels such as paraffin allow for single port hybrid designs that overcome the disadvantages associated with classical hybrid fuels. Additionally, paraffin has a both a weak and low glass transition temperature, making it an ideal candidate for a Mars application. Nytrox, a high performance oxidizer made of a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen, can be chosen to match the temperatures on Mars. The hybrid MAV can survive the harsh Martian environment with minimal or no thermal conditioning and it can meet the design challenges posed by coordinating with the other aspects of MSR. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.