Reaction Control System using hybrid micro-thrusters for guided sounding rocket

The paper intend to develop a calculus model for an innovative Reaction Control System (RCS) using hybrid rocket engine technology. Our RCS uses several hybrid micro-thrusters with their thrust modulated by a separate control system. For RCS, each of the thrusters will be able to burn a few minutes and its thrust will be modulated within certain limits by controlling the oxidizer flow. In order to reduce size and weight of the RCS we will use a single oxidizer tank which will have as output a flow distributor. The basic idea is not to stop any of the engines during system´s operation but to minimize their thrust reducing the oxidizer flow. This approach is avoiding the inconvenience of repeated stopping and starting of the engine, which can create reliability problems to the entire RCS. By creating thrust imbalance between various hybrid micro thrusters, one can create torques with which the attitude or the trajectory of the vehicle can be adjusted. In terms of calculation model developed, it starts from our theoretical and experimental studies, which aimed to build a computational model for hybrid rocket engine highlighting the scalability, stability and its controllability. These studies were presented in RAST 2011 and are based on our own experiments performed in Electromecanica Ploiesti. Based on this concept we achieve a calculation of the performances of the RCS and an evaluation in their size. Conclusions and any discussion will be focused on technological possibilities for achieving the system and possible areas of application for the RCS.