Solid fuel launch vehicle destruction system and method

Details Solid fuel launch vehicle destruction system and method Solid fuel launch vehicle destruction system and method

1994-10-13

1996-04-16

Jordan, Charles T.

Ammunition and explosives

Having reaction motor

102377, 102378, 60253, 60254, F42B 1536, F02K 900

Patent

active

055072313

ABSTRACT:
A system and method for shattering a launch vehicle into relatively small pieces are described. The launch vehicle includes at least one solid fuel rocket motor having a propellant disposed about a combustion chamber within a rocket motor case. Each rocket motor also includes at least one motor igniter to ignite the propellant and at least one explosive charge adjacent the rocket motor case. A firing unit is capable of generating a motor ignition signal and a charge explosion signal. A first propagator carries the motor ignition signal to the motor igniter so the signal arrives after a propagation time T.sub.ignition and causes ignition of the previously unignited rocket motor. A second propagator carries the charge explosion signal to the explosive charge so the signal arrives after a propagation time T.sub.explosion and causes an explosion against the rocket motor case. The time T.sub.explosion is greater than the time T.sub.ignition by a pressurization time T.sub.pressurization that is sufficient to allow pressurization of the combustion chamber before actuation of the explosive charge. Pressurization of the combustion chamber exerts forces on the rocket motor case which act in combination with the subsequent force from the explosion to shatter both the case and the propellant much more effectively than conventional destruction systems.

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