NOFBX™: A Non-Toxic, "Green" Propulsion Technology with High Performance and Low Cost

NOFBX™ is a nitrous-oxide-based monopropellant technology, developed under NASA and IR&D funding, that offers dramatic benefits over the current storable liquid propulsion technology for spacecraft reaction control and maneuvering. Important characteristics of the propellant include performance equal to NTO/MMH, non-toxicity and being environmentally benign. NOFBX™ thrusters, which are spark-ignited (re-startable) and deeply throttleable (100:1), have been demonstrated in the 0.4 N to 450 N (0.1 ‐ 100 lbf) thrust range, with measured specific impulse (Isp) performance of over 325 seconds. Innovative Space Propulsion Systems (ISPS) has received an award under NASA’s National Lab program to demonstrate the 100-lbf NOFBX™ thruster on the ISS, launching in 2013. This paper will describe NOFBX™ characteristics and applications, document NOFBX™ technology (TRL) and propellant (PRL) maturity evolution, report status of the ISS flight demonstration and other developments, and discuss commercialization plans worldwide.