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Bipropellant
Apogee Motors

Close Overview 10 N Bipropellant Thruster 200 N Bipropellant Thruster 400 N Bipropellant Thruster

 

400N Bipropellant Apogee Motors

For apogee orbit injection of geostationary satellites and for deep space trajectory and planetary orbit missions.

 

Since 1974, our bipropellant apogee motors have controlled numerous international satellites, spacecraft and deep space probes with 100% success. During that time, multiple refinements have been implemented to further increase performance and reliability whilst maintaining low production costs.

 

Off-the-Shelf Apogee Motors

Two models of 400N apogee motor are available off-the-shelf with almost identical performance. The main criterion for selecting a particular model is the available volume in the spacecraft for accommodating the motor.

 

The difference between the two models is the size of the expansion nozzle. Model S400-15 is equipped with a larger nozzle and therefore operates at 1% higher efficiency than the smaller model S400-12.

 

Both models are available with propellant valves from either a US supplier, or from ArianeGroup, depending on customer's requirements. When fitted with the ArianeGroup valve, the engine becomes an all European product.

 

 

 

10N Bipropellant Thruster with dual seat ArianeGroup valve
Model No S400-15 apogee motor 
(Isp: 321 sec)
Dimensions: Elevation Plan
10N Bipropellant Thruster with single seat valve
Model No S400-12 apogee motor
 (Isp: 318 sec)
Dimensions: Elevation Plan

 

 

Systems Flow Rate Calibration

Motors are provided with trimming orifices upstream of the propellant control valves. This feature allows for individual adjustment of the propellant flow rate according to the systems design pressure.

 

Thermal Control

If required, the motors can be fitted with heaters and thermistors for thermal control.

 

Apogee Motor Accessories

Standard motor accessories are available, including a nozzle heat shield kit and thrust frame. We also produce dedicated, tailor-made accessories for our existing regular customers.

 

Complete Propulsion Systems

Our 400N apogee motors can be supplied as part of a complete unified propulsion system with every back-up, test and support service that you would expect from the European propulsion specialists.

 

 

 

400N Bipropellant Apogee Motor Characteristics
Characteristics
Model S400-12
Model S400-15
Thrust, Nominal
420N
425N
Thrust Range
340 - 440N
340 - 440N
Specific Impulse at Nominal Point
318 s
321 s
Flow Rate, Nominal
135 g/s
Flow Rate, Range
110 - 142 g/s
Mixture Ratio, Nominal
1.65
Mixture Ratio, Range
1.50 - 1.80
Chamber Pressure, Nominal
10 bar
Inlet Pressure Range
12.5 - 18.5 bar
Throat Diameter (inner)
16.4 mm
Nozzle End Diameter (inner)
244 mm
292 mm
Nozzle Expansion Ratio (by area)
220
330
Mass Engine with Valve
3.60 kg
4.30 kg
Qualified Single Burn Life
1.1 hours
1.85 hours
Qualified Accumulated Burn Life
8.3 hours
8.5 hours planned
Qualified Cycle Life
100 cycles
135 cycles planned

Chamber/Throat Material
Platinum Alloy
Injector Type
Double Cone Vortex
Cooling Control
Film and Radiative
Propellants:
- Fuel
- Oxidiser

MMH
N2O4, MON-1, MON-3
Valve
Solenoid single seat, double coil voltage 21 to 27v.
Power: 35 W per coil bi-stable, US Supplier
Valve Supplier
1) US Supplier, or
2) ArianeGroup.
Mounting Interface to Spacecraft
Valve flange with 4 feedthrough holes of 6.6 mm diameter
Tubing Interface
per MS 33656-4
Valve Lead Wires
24 AWG per MIL-W-81381
Thruster Heater and Thermal Sensor
On request

 

 

 

Apogee motor with integrated heat shield and thrust frame
Apogee motor with integrated heat shield and thrust frame

 

 

HERITAGE: 400N Bipropellant Apogee Motors
Spacecraft
Launch
Symphonie 1
1974
Symphonie 2
1975
TV-Sat 1
1987
TDF-1
1988
Galileo
1989
Tele X
1989
DFS Kopernikus 1
1989
TV-Sat 2
1989
DFS Kopernikus 2
1989
TDF-2
1990
Eutelsat 2-F1
1990
Eutelsat 2-F2
1991
Eutelsat 2-F3
1991
Arabsat 1C
1992
Eutelsat 2-F4
1992
DFS Kopernikus 3
1992
Eutelsat 2-F5
1994
Turksat 1A
1994
Turksat 1AR
1994
Turksat 1B
1994
HotBird 1
1995
Amos 1
1995
Arabsat 2A
1996
Turksat 1C
1996
Arabsat 2B
1996
Nahuel 1A
1997
Thaicom 3
1997
Sirius 2 FM1
1997
Sinosat
1998
Eutelsat W2
1998
GE 5
1998
Arabsat 3A
1999
Eutelsat W3
1999
Hispasat 1C
2000
Eutelsat W4
2000
Cluster FM 6, FM 7
2000
Cluster FM 5, FM 8
2000
Amsat P3D
2000
Spacecraft
Launch
Eurasiasat
2001
Sicral
2001
Eurobird
2001
Artemis
2001
Atlantic Bird 2
2001
Atlantic Bird 3
2002
Atlantic Bird 1
2002
HotBird 6
2002
Meteosat SG 1
2002
Hispasat 1D
2002
Eutelsat W5
2002
Astra 1K
2002
Mars Express
2003
AMC 9
2003
Amos 2
2003
Apstar 6
2005
AMC 12
2005
AMC 13
2005
MSG FM2
2005
Syracruse 3A
2005
Venus Express
2005
HB7A, APA2
2006
Koreasat 5
2006
Syracuse 3B FM2
2006
THAICOM 5
2006
Chinasat 6B
2007
Galaxy 17
2007
Rascom RC1
2007
Star One C1
2007
Chinasat 9
2008
CIEL 2
2008
Star One C2
2008
Turksat 3A
2008
Eutelsat W3A
2009
Eutelsat W7
2009
Comsat-Bw 1
2009
Palapa D
2009
SICRAL2 (1B)
2009
Spacecraft
Launch
Thor-6
2009
Eutelsat W3B
2010
Comsat-Bw 2
2010
Nilesat 201
2010
RASCOM QAF 1R
2010
Eutelsat W3C
2011
MSG FM3
2011
Apstar 7A
2012
Apstar 7B
2012
Eutelsat W6A
2012
Alphasat
2013
MSG FM4
2013
AMOS 4
2013
ARSAT
2014
 Athena Fidus
2014
MSG FM4
2015
ARSAT 2
2015
 E8WB
2015
Türkmensat
2015
Sicral 2
2015
Exomars Orbiter
2016
Amos 6
LV failure
EDRS
2016
SGDC
2017
Koreasat 7
2017
Koreasat 5A
2017
Telkom 3S
2017
Inmarsat HS3
2018
KARI GK2A
2018
KARI GK2B
BS1
2018
Quantum
2019
 MTG I1
2020
 Egyptsat
2019
Yamal 601
2019
MTG-S1
 
 
 
 
 

 

Bipropellant Thrusters
(PDF Brochure)

Bipropellant Apogee Motor Brochure (pdf)

Apogee motors are featured in our Bipropellant Thruster Brochure, available to view online from where it may be downloaded.

 

Download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader   Adobe Reader


 If you require the printed version of this brochure, or more detailed information about this product please contact us.

 

See the complete list of our space propulsion brochures available for download.