The Solid Liquid Integrated Cycle (SLICE) rocket engine uses a solid propellant gas generator for the fuel and a liquid oxidizer. The propellants are combusted in an array of small thrusters with the exhaust expanded on an aerospike nozzle. SLICE reduces cost by using safe, easy to handle propellants and by taking advantage of economy of scale in the manufacturing of the thrusters. The objective of this effort was to mature SLICE propulsion technology in order to prepare it for use on NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s Towed Glider Air Launched System (TGALS).
