0. Swiss Propulsion Laboratory
At a glance

1. Switzerland and it‘s Space Industry
Switzerland is a founding member of ESA (ca. 130 Mio. €/y)
Universities: Rosetta space probe, biol. experiments for ISS etc.
Lot‘s of high tech companies, only few into space technologies, none in propulsion Two Examples:

2. Founding of SPL
Founded by 3 engineers (today: 7 members and additional helpers) in autumn 98 as a non-profit research organization. Financed by priv. funds and sponsoring (ARO-TECHNOLOGIES)
Aims:
Development of launch sytems for small payloads (X-Bow launcher family)
Main focus: Design, build and test propulsion related components and equipment like injectors, comb. chambers, (cryogenic) valves, igniters, pressurization systems, complete thrust test stands etc.
Close cooperation with universities, companies and other research groups

3. Projects Pre-SPL Projects X-Bow Launcher Family Australian AUSROC 2.5
Solid Propulsion
Misc./Infrastructure

4. ARO TECHNOLOGIES Pre-SPL History
In the years 1994 to 1997 ARO TECHNOLOGIES developed various components for the project „Stingray“.
Click on picture to start movie

5. Projects Pre-SPL Projects X-Bow Launcher Family Australian AUSROC 2.5
Solid Propulsion
Misc./Infrastructure

6. X-Bow I

7. X-Bow I Tridyne
Tridyne gas is catalyticaly „burned“ in a catalyst. It consists of a low percentage of Hydrogen/Oxygen mixed in a inert gas like Helium or Nitrogen.
A typical SPL Tridyne test device:

8. X-Bow I Tridyne

9. X-Bow I Engine 10 kN thrust, combustion pressure 2.5 MPa
Propellant: LOX and Kerosene or Ethyl Alcohol, m~ 4 kg/s
Electrical torch igniter makes the engine restartable

10. X-Bow I Engine
Current work: 10 kN modular test injector with 19 removable elements. Prepared for film-cooling

11. X-Bow I Engine Triplet injectors (2 fuel, 1 LOX), film cooling
Cold spray tests in a high pressure environment up to 6 MPa done by students at FHBB(droplets size and velocity measured by a LDA)

12. X-Bow I Engine Ablatively or regeneratively cooled combustion chamber
Regenerative cooled variant: Copper liner with machined cooling channels and an outer shell of electro plated nickel. Low cost variant: Aluminum-Liner and saddle design

13. X-Bow I Engine
Successful test of a 2.5 kN subscale low-cost combustion chamber made of aluminum.
Click on picture to start movie

14. X-Bow I Engine
Successful test of a 2.5 kN subscale low-cost combustion chamber made of aluminum. At full throttle…
Click on picture to start movie

15. Projects Pre-SPL Projects X-Bow Launcher Family Australian AUSROC 2.5
Solid Propulsion
Misc./Infrastructure

16. AUSROC 2.5
LOX/Kerosene, 3o kN thrust, 6m tall. SPL supports the project with pressurization equipments and other devices. Altitude: ~40 km. Movie AUSROC 2

17. AUSROC 2.5
Staging mechanism: Designed and build by FHNW students. More info’s about AUSROC:

18. Projects Pre-SPL Projects X-Bow Launcher Family Australian AUSROC 2.5
Solid-Propulsion
Misc./Infrastructure

19. Solid Propulsion
Goal: Elaborate the knowledge to design, build and fire solid rocket motors (AP-HTPB-Al Composite)
Testing of highly efficient burning rate catalysts like CATOCENE => burning rates up to 25 7 MPa
Various test motors up to an impulse of 20 kNs and thrust of 12 kN

20. Solid propulsion TETHIS Motor
Impulse 20 kNs, thrust 8 kN, 4 stacked grains (81% solids)
Ignited by a pyrogen Magnesium/Teflon igniter
Series of Tethis motors successful tested in April 2002
Click on picture to start movie

21. Solid Propulsion Igniters
Pyrogen igniters are small rocket motors initiated by smaller pyrotechnic charges (Squibs)

22. Solid Propulsion Igniters

23. Solid Propulsion Magnesium/Teflon igniter

24. Projects Pre-SPL Projects X-Bow Launcher Family Australian AUSROC 2.5
Solid Propulsion
Misc./Infrastructure

25. Miscellaneous Projects
Test bench for Turbo pumps
Turbines and pumps up to 200 kW and 60‘000 rpm can be tested here
Click on picture to start movie

26. Infrastructure
All kinds of conventional and NC machine tools, EDM, ECM
CAD/FEM/CAM/CFD tools available
DAQ equipment: 64 channels, 100 kSp/s 4 channels , 500 MSp/s
Hydro test equipment 100 MPa
Vacuum chamber , 24 m3, 1000 Pa
Pressure converter, allows to compress any kind gas mixtures to pressures up to 100 MPa (for example the Tridyne gas mix)
Indoor test stand for small thrusters, igniters, gas generators
100 kN thrust test stand
Sound suppressing System for engines up to 100 kN
And much more ...

27. Infrastructure Thrust Test Stand
For solids and liquids
exchangeable load cells 25 and 100 kN
Measuring table mounted on hysteresis-free flex joints
integrated safety stops

28. Infrastructure Thrust Test Stand
Sound suppressing system (12m long stainless tube, with baffles, embedded in 20 t sand)
High power fan
Ex-proof test cell

29. Infrastructure Thrust Test Stand
Test cell
Start MTW-Movie to get an impression of the infrastructure

30. Infrastructure Other examples
5 axis CNC milling machines, CNC lathe
Access to underground detonic laboratory with high-speed X-Ray recording

31. The Near Future at SPL
Further development of regenerative cooled engines up to 100 kN
Participation in the ENTERPRISE project
Development of the engines
Propellant feeding system, pressurization etc.
Launch of AUSROC 2.5 equipped with SPL Tridyne system
Development of the X-Bow I airframe
Various projects with commercial and governmental partners

32. Contact and further info‘s:
Questions ?
Contact and further info‘s: