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NOFBX = nitrous oxide fuel blend, a product of Firestar Technologies at the Mojave Spaceport complex in Mojave, California.
The idea is that a C2 carbohydrate is mixed with nitrous oxide and additives that stabilize the mix and preclude detonation. This single fuel/oxidizer fluid could replace the toxic combination of monomethylhydrazine and (di)nitrogen tetroxide used in most satellites and spacecraft, while also simplifying the plumbing and providing a relatively high specific impulse of up to 320.
Replacing the toxic fuels now in use would greatly simplify spacecraft ground ops, and it also has the potential to replace liquid hydrogen for space fuel depots, Earth departure stages and launcher second stages with a single fluid that doesn't have hydrogens limitations (boiloff, degrading its containers, etc.)
NASA is certain enough of its safety to let it fly on the third SpaceX Dragon resupply mission to the ISS, CRS-3, and for this testbed engine, tank and their systems to be attached to the ISS main truss. Seems they've dropped full tanks @Mojave with no big booms. The specific mix ratios are also highly adjustable to suit the purpose. Looked through the patents and came up with their mix naming convention-
Crazier still - NOFBX can be used to run an I/C piston engine in a vacuum, in the air or on Earth with no need for an air intake or an oxygen supply. Yup - a moon buggy could conceivably use a Chevy small block
NOFBX: Nitrous Oxide Fuel Blend
1st digit: C2 hydrocarbon group
1: ethane
2: ethylene
3: acetylene
2nd digit: Oxidizer to Fuel ratio
3rd character: blend variation suffix (additives etc.): a,b,c,d.....
NOFBX34a: nitrous oxide + acetylene with a 4:1 oxidizer to fuel ratio and their first listed mix variation
Related patent PDFs:
Flashback preventer: link....
Rocket engine injector head: link....
Flashback shutoff: link....
Spark-integrated injector: link....
Insulated combustion chamber (I/C engine): link....
Detonation wave arrestor: link....
Aluminum porous media: link....
Regeneratively cooled aluminum porous media jacket: link....
The idea is that a C2 carbohydrate is mixed with nitrous oxide and additives that stabilize the mix and preclude detonation. This single fuel/oxidizer fluid could replace the toxic combination of monomethylhydrazine and (di)nitrogen tetroxide used in most satellites and spacecraft, while also simplifying the plumbing and providing a relatively high specific impulse of up to 320.
Replacing the toxic fuels now in use would greatly simplify spacecraft ground ops, and it also has the potential to replace liquid hydrogen for space fuel depots, Earth departure stages and launcher second stages with a single fluid that doesn't have hydrogens limitations (boiloff, degrading its containers, etc.)
NASA is certain enough of its safety to let it fly on the third SpaceX Dragon resupply mission to the ISS, CRS-3, and for this testbed engine, tank and their systems to be attached to the ISS main truss. Seems they've dropped full tanks @Mojave with no big booms. The specific mix ratios are also highly adjustable to suit the purpose. Looked through the patents and came up with their mix naming convention-
Crazier still - NOFBX can be used to run an I/C piston engine in a vacuum, in the air or on Earth with no need for an air intake or an oxygen supply. Yup - a moon buggy could conceivably use a Chevy small block
NOFBX: Nitrous Oxide Fuel Blend
1st digit: C2 hydrocarbon group
1: ethane
2: ethylene
3: acetylene
2nd digit: Oxidizer to Fuel ratio
3rd character: blend variation suffix (additives etc.): a,b,c,d.....
NOFBX34a: nitrous oxide + acetylene with a 4:1 oxidizer to fuel ratio and their first listed mix variation
Related patent PDFs:
Flashback preventer: link....
Rocket engine injector head: link....
Flashback shutoff: link....
Spark-integrated injector: link....
Insulated combustion chamber (I/C engine): link....
Detonation wave arrestor: link....
Aluminum porous media: link....
Regeneratively cooled aluminum porous media jacket: link....