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After the successful manufacturing and launch of Phoenix in January 2023, the team created goals for the next Spaceshot rocket, Project Medusa. One of the Medusa goals are to get halfway to space (~185,000 feet). Due to the performance of Angry Goat in Project Phoenix, it was clear that a new propellant was necessary to fit the project's goals. Initial propellant formulas were developed in spring 2023, and characterization tests occurred throughout summer 2023. Lack of AP access slowed down the process in late summer 2023-mid winter 2024. Deimos is just barely pourable enough to be considered easily handled. Any more dense and it would not be pourable , but and would need to be packed. General ISP in simulated optimized motors are 210s.
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- Use of smaller AP particles than Angry Goat
- Removed Magnesium
- Replaced HTPB with a new bonding agent to combine HTPB and Tepanol bonding agent
- Increase liquid content slightly to mitigate packed density
Formula
| Ingredient | % Mass | |
|---|---|---|
| HTPB w/ CAO-5 & HX-752 | 11.369% | |
| IDP | 5.344% | |
| PDMS | .050% | |
| 5 µ Al Powder | 9% | |
| 200 µ Ammonium Perchlorate | 48.355% | |
| 90 µ Ammonium Perchlorate | 24.178% | |
| MDI | 1.704% |
Mixings
| Date | Designation | Motor(s) | Site | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/17/23 | Baja Blast | Characterization Motors | RT Lab | Resulted in too low pressures |
| 7/23/23 | Blue Voltage | Characterization Motors | RT Lab | Acceptable grain; static fired and used for characterization |
| 12/5/23 | Deimos | Characterization Motors | RT Lab | Same result as 7/23/23 mix |
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