Space Technologies Department

The main area of interest of the Space Technologies Department (STD) is research and development of space propulsion and space transportation technologies, especially green propulsion. There are numerous topic covered within the Departments’ projects:

  • development of sounding rockets and technologies to be applied in space transportation
  • research on modern fuels and oxidizers for space propulsion
  • development of dual-use rocket propulsion systems
  • development of small thrusters for satellite applications (including deorbitation systems)
  • experimental research on rocket propulsion (in-house test bench)
  • modeling of injection, mixing and combustion processes
  • rockets’ structure and propulsion optimisation
  • development of in-house engineering software (including flight mechanics simulation)
  • development of control systems for rockets and missiles

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Work includes development of sounding rocket systems and in-flight testing. Institute of Aviation has capabilities of delivering microgravity experimentation platforms and services. Apart from dedication to suborbital vehicles, since 2007 small launch vehicles studies have been on-going. Recent effort have the goal to continue working on space transportation systems for launching small satellites to Low Earth Orbits taking the advantage of international cooperation.

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STD’s crucial achievement is the development and commercialization of the method for preparing hydrogen peroxide, in particular High-Test Peroxide – HTP, which is utilized in a wide range of industries. Institute of Aviation holds the European Patent for this technology.

The Propulsion Laboratory, existing within STD, realizes  the following tasks:

  • research on hypergolic ignition of HTP with selected fuels
  • research on propellants for liquid and hybrid propulsion systems
  • development of catalysts for monopropellant applications
  • research on compatibility of various engineering materials with propellants

The Hydrogen Peroxide Laboratory focuses on:

  • development and optimisation of modern methods for obtaining HTP
  • research on HTP storability

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STD realizes projects from the European Space Agency (ESA), European Commission (EC) and National Center for Research and Development (NCBiR). Examples of most important external projects realized within STD are listed below:

  • Development of Heterogenic Catalysts for Hydrogen Peroxide decomposition (ESA PECS)
  • Pulsed Chemical Rocket with Green High Performance Propellants – PulCheR (FP7)
  • Green Advanced Space Propulsion – GRASP (FP7)
  • Green bi-propellant apogee rocket engine for future spacecraft- GRACE (ESA)
  • Participation of Poland in the ESA Small Launcher Initiative (ESA)
  • CleanSat CDF Project “Solid Rocket Motor for Deorbit” (ESA)
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Storability/Compatibility Study (ESA)
  • Assessment of High Performance Green Propellants (ESA)
  • Pre-qualification of Aluminum-free Solid Propellant (ESA)
  • Hybrid Propulsion Module for Transfer to GEO orbit- HYPROGEO (H2020)

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ncbirInstitute of Aviation is the Prime in two large national rocket technology activities dedicated to:

– solid rocket booster development

– green hypergolic rocket engine development

These projects are financed by the National Centre of Research and Development and aid national security and defence activities

The engineering and scientific staff actively participates in outreach and supports education within the space technology domain (providing internships for nationals and students from Ohio State University). STD cooperates with leading European space propulsion companies.

Head of Space Technologies Department
Ph.D. Eng. Adam Okniński
Phone: (+48) 22 846 00 11 ext. 331
Fax: (+48) 22 846 44 32
E-mail: adam.okninski@ilot.edu.pl