Victor Yang

Optimizing Northrop Grumman’s GEM63XL Solid Rocket Booster with novel propellant formulations to gain an increase in maximum thrust

Started May 16, 2025

Abstract or project description

Rocket motors are essential parts of a rocket to help it carry specific payloads into space and further space exploration. Thus, it is imperative that more powerful motors be designed to improve their efficiency and aid future missions to space. While the GEM63XL solid rocket motor is powerful, it can still be further improved while keeping the same motor dimensions. These improvements can be attained by chemically analyzing new propellant formulations, modifying grain geometry structure, and adjusting propellant distribution throughout the motor. The improvements that these changes bring can be measured by using a theoretical approach involving code-based simulations and rocket equations with assumed conditions to measure their boosts in overall thrust. This will deliver four novel propellant mixes, a new propellant cross-section, a new propellant distribution, and new nozzle geometry. From these improvements, we can expect to see up to a 98% improvement in the motor’s maximum thrust.