Viability of an Electrically Driven Pump-Fed Hybrid Rocket for Small Launcher Upper Stages
An electrically driven pump-fed cycle for a hybrid rocket engine is proposed and compared to a simpler gas-pressurized feed system.A liquid-oxygen/paraffin-based fuel hybrid rocket engine which powers the third stage of a Vega-like launcher is considered.Third-stage ignition conditions are assigned, and engine design and payload mass are defined by