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BEM: Ballistic Evaluation Motor
The first technological challenge facing the Sugar Shot program, the BEM is a ¼ scaled
version of the proposed full-size motor slated for the eXSShot space flight attempt. The
concept of the motor design is novel in the sense that the operation involves a “dual
burn”. The motor consists of two distinct combustion chambers with separate propellant
grain charges. The charges fire sequentially, separated in time by a delay period, thus the
term “dual-burn”. The two chambers are separated by a “mid bulkhead” which
incorporates a combustible “delay plug”, which is fully consumed during the delay
period. The purpose of having two separate propellant charges with a delay between
operation of each is to allow a rocket vehicle to coast between firings. This greatly
increases the potential peak altitude in comparison to a conventional single-burn motor.
The BEM is intended solely as a static test motor, and as such, incorporates “boilerplate”
design philosophy.
Objectives:
· To prove the “dual-burn” concept using a largely similar, but scaled-down, design
corresponding to that of the proposed flight motor
· To obtain actual performance data for comparison to predicted, and thus aid in the
design of the flight vehicle motor and subsequent test motors.
· To obtain motor-specific operating characteristics of the KNSB propellant
· Confirm delay-plug concept is feasible
· Test and validate elements of the dual-ignition system
 Pictures and video of actual work on the BEM and SS-TEM
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