A consortium of companies in Poland will investigate new fuel injector designs to improve variable thrust in rocket engines using storable ‘green’ propellants.

A contract was signed last week between ESA and Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation in Poland as prime contractor.

New injector and engine control valves will be designed, built and tested to better understand thrust control in a demonstration engine of a 5kN thrust class.

Firing the engine whilst varying the fuel and oxidiser input will change the thrust. This project will test various designs of a “pintle” injector to maintain stable combustion while testing a wide thrust range.

In addition, the project will incorporate new engine control valves and investigate low-cost prototyping and manufacturing methods such as additive layer manufacturing.

The Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation is the prime contractor working on the injector design, valve flow parts, overall demonstrator design and the demonstrator test at their onsite test benches.

Astronika will work on the valve control parts and overall control methods, Jakusz SpaceTech will provide high-grade hydrogen peroxide as the oxidiser for the tests, and advise on the handling of the fuels and oxidiser.