The primary objectives of the MINUTEMAN Propulsion Surveillance Program are (1) to evaluate the storage behavior of the various subsystems and components the operationally deployed missile motors, and (2) to identify and verify failure modes in sufficient time to allow for orderly replacement of the missile force without significant degradation in reliability. At the time the MINUTEMAN Weapon system was being developed, the requirement for predicting the operational service life of the motors was recognized as an essential goal of the program. Unlike liquid engines, solid propellant motors cannot be periodically nondestructively test fired to identify aging trends and failure modes. Consequently, the MINUTEMAN Propulsion Surveillance Program was established by Ballistic Systems Division in 1960 to provide aging data on a continuing basis to determine possible motor reliability degradation. The MINUTEMAN Propulsion Surveillance Program is unique among solid rocket aging studies as it consists of not only a full scale motor program but also a component program and a laboratory sample program. The Surveillane Progam is presently being conducted by the Ballistic Systems Division and by the 2705th Airmunitions Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. (Author)


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    Title :

    A Review of the Minuteman Propulsion Surveillance Program for Assessing Rocket Motor Service Life


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1965


    Size :

    42 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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