GEM-70 SRB

GET READY FOR MORE POWER!

The GEM-70 SRB is Northrop Grumman’s newest edition to their GEM family. Larger in all dimensions over the GEM-63XL(Vulcan-Centaur), it boasts increased power and reliability over a significantly reduced price and complexity. Custom manufactured and tested through a joint venture between Northrop Grumman and Orion Technologies, the latter will use the new strap-on booster for their upcoming next-generation Aquila launch vehicle. The new rocket will use 2-8 of the SRBs, meaning that Northrop Grumman will need to manufacture and transport anywhere between 12-20 SRBs a month.

OVERVIEW

The SRB measures 80ft tall and 70 inches in diameter. The casing is made of carbon-fiber composites and the nozzle is crafted from graphite-epoxy material. Each SRB adds roughly 7200 lbs of payload to a rocket’s LEO capacity. An individual booster weighs 128,000lbs when fueled. The solid fuel consists of HTPB-bound ammonium perchlorate composite propellant. The SRB burns for approximately 1.6 minutes, and separates from the rocket via 3 SEP motors(2 in the nose cone and 1 in the aft section). The boosters are intentionally built without any reuse mechanism. Because of how easy and inexpensive it is to manufacture a new booster, the cost of making a new one is significantly lower than that of retrieving, refurbishing, and refueling a re-flown one.

HOW TO USE

Booster can be used on any rocket(Aquila, Vulcan-Centaur, Atlas V, Delta IV, etc.), attach via the aft separator. You will probably have to then go back to your stages on the rocket and work the booster’s main engine, separators, and SEP motors into the stages; there’s no way around that. The Command Chip is in the nosecone, just grab it, group the parts, and make it a subassembly for use on your rockets. If you plan to use it on any of your rockets, please credit me as the creator. Thank you and Enjoy!