Rockets work by combustion which requires a fuel and an oxidizer. Solid and liquid rockets utilize fuel and oxidizer in the same phase (solid and liquid respectively). Hybrid rockets- the focus of our research- use fuels in the solid & oxidizers in the liquid phase. Hybrids are safe, cheap, allow thrust control and have a simpler design. However, without ignition of the propellant, our rocket’s not going anywhere, and that’s a challenge for hybrids. Hybrid ignition is plagued with problems such as delayed ignition and heavier motor weight to accommodate separate igniter systems. Our research therefore focuses on utilizing an energetic but safe propellant combinations that reacts exothermically and ignites rapidly, thereby potentially overcoming ignition problems in hybrids.
