Interorbital Systems CPM TV-1

[blackshire]

Hello All,

Interorbital Systems (see: http://www.interorbital.com ) is preparing to launch their CPM TV-1 (Common Propulsion Module Test Vehicle-1), which can be flown alone as a sounding rocket or clustered to form parallel-staged satellite launch vehicles in their Neptune series (see: http://www.interorbital.com/Neptune%20Modular%20Page_1.htm ). About halfway down the Neptune page, there is also a photograph of their small Neutrino liquid propellant test rocket being launched.

The CPMs are pressure-fed liquid propellant systems that burn turpentine/furfuryl alcohol and WFNA (White Fuming Nitric Acid), a hypergolic fuel/oxidizer combination that eliminates the need for ignition systems.

I hope this material will be useful.

[Jerry Irvine]

Hello All,

Interorbital Systems (see: http://www.interorbital.com ) is preparing to launch their CPM TV-1 (Common Propulsion Module Test Vehicle-1), which can be flown alone as a sounding rocket or clustered to form parallel-staged satellite launch vehicles in their Neptune series (see: http://www.interorbital.com/Neptune%20Modular%20Page_1.htm ). About halfway down the Neptune page, there is also a photograph of their small Neutrino liquid propellant test rocket being launched.

The CPMs are pressure-fed liquid propellant systems that burn turpentine/furfuryl alcohol and WFNA (White Fuming Nitric Acid), a hypergolic fuel/oxidizer combination that eliminates the need for ignition systems.

I hope this material will be useful.I know those folks. I have been to their shop several times. My company even offered to buy a motor from them in about 2000 or so. They have conducted tests at the same site(s) I do. Their general MO is to do a subscale test on hopes of attracting further funding.

The basic technology is sound, but my own experience is they have difficulty monetizing it to the point they decline opportunities that will do so. I am not sure if the technology as they have implemented it is not up to snuff or if they are simply holding on too hard.

At some point if you are a commercial operation, you have to do commerce. Taking deposits on tickets to space with no visible delivery date in our lifetimes does not count.

http://www.interorbital.com/Orbital%20Vacations%20%20Page_1.htm

I should also say there was a large (>30k) alc/WFNA test firing at MTA last month (by someone) that was successfully conducted with assistance of the RRS.

One other note. Blow-down pressure fed is cheap and easy but then you get the thrust curve and ISP penalty of a self pressurized nitrous hybrid. A proper liquid motor needs pumps or at the very least, regulated pressure fed systems.

Jerry

[blackshire]

Yes, I've noticed their long "static test stand to launch pad" lag, too, but at last they have a full-size flight vehicle built. In the late 1990s when they were getting started, they asked me for copies of all of my Aerobee documentation (which I gladly provided), and they used the Aerobee's engine as a point of departure (or at least a design reference) for their engine design.