Rocket Motor Starting Characteristics with Spontaneously Igniting Liquid Propellants

The starting characteristics of rocket motors using a spontaneously igniting liquid propellant have been investigated and tentative equipment and operation specifications for starts without dangerous initial pressure surges are proposed. This report presents and summarizes the experimental and theoretical data which serve as a basis for the specifications. The work indicates that no dangerous initial pressure surges (hard starts) will occur if the initial flow of propellant into the combustion chamber is controlled within certain prescribed limits.