// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM

Monopropellant

A monopropellant is a type of rocket fuel that doesn't need a separate oxidizer to burn; it decomposes on its own when heated or passed over a catalyst, producing hot gas for thrust.

TECHNICAL DEFINITION

A monopropellant is a chemical propulsion agent that, upon catalytic decomposition or thermal activation, releases energy and generates hot gas for thrust without requiring a separate oxidizer, commonly used in spacecraft for attitude control and station-keeping.

BACKGROUND

Private spaceflight companies include non-governmental or privately owned entities focused on developing and/or offering equipment and services geared towards spaceflight, both robotic and human. This list includes both inactive and active entities.

READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIA

SYNONYMS & ALIASES

  • single-component propellant
  • catalytic propellant
  • hydrazine

USAGE NOTE

Monopropellants offer simpler propulsion systems for small thrusters due to their single-tank design.

DEVELOPERS

Organizations developing technology related to Monopropellant.

  • Aerojet Rocketdyne

    A major American rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer. They produce a wide range of hydrazine-based monopropellant thrusters used for attitude control, orbit insertion, and station-keeping on numerous satellites and spacecraft.

  • Benchmark Space Systems

    Develops innovative and non-toxic chemical propulsion systems for small satellites. Their technology includes systems based on High-Test Peroxide (HTP) as a green monopropellant alternative to traditional hydrazine.

  • Bradford ECAPS

    A Swedish company specializing in green satellite propulsion. They pioneered High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) systems using the LMP-103S ammonium dinitramide (ADN)-based monopropellant.

  • Busek Co. Inc.

    A US-based company that develops advanced space propulsion systems. Busek has developed green monopropellant thrusters utilizing AF-M315E, a hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN)-based fuel, for NASA and the U.S. Air Force.

  • Northrop Grumman

    A global aerospace and defense technology company. Through its acquisition of Orbital ATK, the company has extensive experience in designing and manufacturing hydrazine monopropellant propulsion systems and thrusters for a wide variety of spacecraft.

  • ArianeGroup

    A European leader in space launch systems and technologies. They design and manufacture monopropellant thrusters using hydrazine for attitude and orbit control systems on satellites, orbital stages, and interplanetary probes.

  • Dawn Aerospace

    A space transportation company developing reusable launch vehicles and in-space propulsion systems. They produce a line of green monopropellant thrusters for small satellites using a proprietary non-toxic catalyst and propellant blend.

  • Moog Inc.

    A worldwide designer and manufacturer of motion and fluid controls. Their space division provides a wide range of propulsion components and complete systems, including hydrazine-based monopropellant thrusters and tank assemblies for satellite applications.

RELATED TERMS IN ENGINEERING