Investigations of Paraffin-Based Hybrid Rockets
May, the 9th, 2016 at 11:15, Room CT49.1, Building B2 via Candiani, Campus Bovisa
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Aerospaziali
Via La Masa 34
20156 Milano
Javier Stober
The advent of high regression-rate fuels for hybrid rockets has ushered in a new era of competitiveness for hybrid versus solid and liquid rockets. Paraffin wax (C32H66) based fuels have been shown to burn 3-5 times more quickly than the previous state of the art in hybrids, allowing for an increase in available thrust. Such advancements have catalyzed new research in the areas of materials, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics, among others, with regards to hybrid rockets.
This talk will provide an overview of recent progress in the Stanford Propulsion and Space Exploration Laboratory on numerous areas of hybrid rockets, focusing on two new projects: the evaluation of green, hypergolic propellants for in-space propulsion as a substitute for hydrazine/NTO thrusters, and spectroscopic techniques for the characterization of hybrid rocket additives and determination of combustion temperatures. The development and initial results of these two experimental efforts will be discussed.
Short CV
Javier Stober is an advanced Ph.D. Candidate in the Stanford Propulsion and Space Exploration Laboratory of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University. His research focuses on the investigation of green, hypergolic rocket propellants and optical diagnostics for hybrid rocket characterization.
Javier earned bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. In parallel with his studies, he has been professionally active within NASA and the private aerospace sector, most notably contributing to the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover, as well as the main propulsion system of Space Launch System, NASA’s heavy expendable launch vehicle which will replace the Space Shuttle.