Investigations on Rheology, Spray and Combustion Processes of Gelled Propellants at DLR Lampoldshausen

Gelled propellants and their specific properties are of interest for both rocket and ramjet applications due to the capability for implementation a freely adjustable thrust control in combination with easy handling and high operational safety. The combination of performance flexibility and storage characteristics merges the major advantages of liquid and solid propulsion systems. At the Institute of Space Propulsion, German Aerospace Center (DLR), basic research on the development, the rheology, the flow behaviour, the spray properties and the combustion characteristics of gels is performed. This paper provides a general overview of the activities and presents recent achievements.