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As SPACE research becomes costlier, inexpensive propulsion systems are beingwidely sought. Research with a view toachieving a major reduction in the costof satellite operation is now underway atthe University of Surrey.
At present, it is necessary to employcostly propulsion systems using eithersolid or liquid fuel to manoeuvre satellites in orbit. The expense is so great thatas much as 15 per cent of the cost of a us$6.5 million mini-satellite missioncould be attributable to the acquisitionof a propulsion system.
The Surrey University system offersa cheap hybrid rocket motor that isbelieved to be an effective alternative forthe sort of small, low-cost missionthat is now in increasing demand.Combining the advantage of long-termstorage offered by the solid-fuel rocketwith the start/stop capability and throttling facility of liquid-fuel one, theSurrey University hybrid would be idealfor transferring satellites from one orbitto another (normally a very expensiveoperation in terms of fuel and thrust),or for making the regular small orbitalcorrections that even communicationsatellites in geosynchronous orbits periodically require.
The Cold War years demandedhigh-performance rockets of immensepower to drive inter-continental ballistic missiles and space-launch vehicles.This in turn, resulted in a preference forsuch highly toxic but chemically potentfuels as hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. By the mid-60s, work on hydrogenperoxide as a propellant had virtuallyceased as it was not regarded as a viablefuel for big rockets. However, the political climate today has undergone achange and people are becoming moreinterested in environmental safety.Hydrogen peroxide is far less toxic thanthe old and established 'Cold War'rocket fuels and therefore, the SurreyUniversity team chose hydrogenperoxide as the oxidant.