Development of an S-Shaped Pulse Detonation Engine for a Sounding Rocket

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an S-shaped pulse detonation engine (PDE) ground firing test in the form of a detonation engine system. The world’s first technology demonstration of PDE in space using a sounding rocket is planned, and the aim is to control the rocket spin rate in the axial direction using pulsed detonation. The PDE operation at full sequence was successful. The despin rate change of the rocket between continuous oxygen supply and successful PDE operation is expected to be $0.95\mathrm{deg}/\mathrm{s}$ per run. This change in despin rate can be measured by an onboard gyro sensor, making the system flyable. The test results were compared with data from thrust measurement tests conducted in a laboratory, the results of which confirmed the thrust generation under an ambient pressure of $0.5\pm 0.1\mathrm{kPa}$ . The average thrust values in the thrust measurement experiments showed good agreement of $101\pm 3\%$ with a quasi-steady-state model introduced to predict the PDE thrust. These results demonstrate the feasibility of the newly developed PDE and its system as the world’s first technology demonstration of detonation propulsion in space.