Familiarization and Detection of Green Monopropellants

Ammonium dinitramide (ADN) and hydroxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN) are "green” monopropellants which will be appearing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for processing in the next few years. These are relatively safe replacements for hydrazine as a monopropellant; however, little is known about methods of leak detection, vapor scrubbing, air emissions, or cleanup that will be required for safe and environmentally benign operations at KSC.  ADN was developed by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), while HAN was developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory to be a propellant. Alliant Techsystems Inc (ATK) is predominantly evaluating ADN for future use, while Ball Aerospace was awarded a NASA Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) to use HAN as a monopropellant to be launched from KSC/Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Kennedy Space Center needs the technology in place prior to their arrival and needs to make recommendations as to their adoption if significant issues are found.This is novel work that is necessary to safely support the evaluation and development of the next generation of “green” propellants. The goal of this project is to develop leak detection and related technologies for the two new ”green” monopropellants. This project is in its early stage of development; information regarding this project will be updated in the near future.