Test Facility Development for the 15,000 lb Thrust Peregrine Hybrid Sounding Rocket

Recent breakthroughs in hybrid rocket technology centered around the development of a high regression rate, liquifying fuel are overcoming traditional hybrid rocket performance shortcomings. Over the past 8 years research efforts at Stanford University and NASA Ames have identified paraffin wax as a high regression rate fuel and characterized its combustion performance with multiple oxidizers. In order to demonstrate the maturity of paraffin wax technology, an intermediate-scale sounding rocket named Peregrine is being built with the objective of reaching an apogee of 100 km. This project, a collaboration between NASA Ames, Stanford University and NASA Wallops will begin with a rigorous ground test program prior to building the flight vehicle. This paper chronicles the design and early build-up of this test facility which is capable of testing 15,000 lb thrust rocket engines. Sources for more information regarding the Peregrine project are also included.