Innovative Space Propulsion Systems Clears Flight Demonstration Hurdle

NOFBX Green Propulsion Demonstration Passes ISS Safety Review

Innovative Space Propulsion Systems (ISPS) has passed another critical milestone in their progress toward the launch of their NOFBX green propulsion demonstration to the International Space Station (ISS).  ISPS is working toward demonstrating their high-performance, non-toxic and environmentally-benign propulsion technology on the ISS under an award from the NASA ISS National Laboratory program.  In April, ISPS passed NASA’s ISS Payload Safety Review Panel phase 1 review. 

“Satisfying the safety panel is an incredibly high bar for any new technology,” said Greg Mungas, President of ISPS.  “Safety is obviously paramount for the space station and this review panel has been thorough and uncompromising in their scrutiny of every technical aspect of our demonstration.” 

The ISPS NOFBX Green Propellant Demonstration involves launching a deep-throttling 440 N (100-lbf) engine assembly and associated feed system to the ISS in mid-2013.  It will be carried in the unpressurized cargo compartment of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on one of its cargo delivery missions.  Once Dragon berths with the space station, the robotic arm will extract the NOFBX test pallet from Dragon and place it on the outside of the European Columbus module.  It will remain in orbit for one year and undergo a suite of in-space performance validation tests including steady-state, pulses, throttling and long-term storage and re-start demonstrations.

NOFBX is an American, nitrous-oxide-based monopropellant spacecraft technology with performance rivaling state-of-the-art hypergolic propulsion systems, but without many of the hazards and overhead associated with toxic storable propellants.  It has many diverse applications including spacecraft, launch vehicles and landers.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the ISS PSRP,” added Mungas.  “Their input provides benefits to all our customers - even those operating with less stringent safety requirements.  Obtaining the go-ahead from this team is a huge step forward for NOFBX.”

SOURCE: Innovative Space Propulsion Systems (ISPS)