Northrop Grumman's First Digitally Designed Solid Rocket Motor Passes Test

Northrop Grumman’s Common 50 High Performance (C50HP) solid rocket motor completed a static fire test at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex.

The C50HP, designed as a high-performance upper stage rocket motor, demonstrated its adaptability to support a range of missions, including those beyond Earth's atmosphere or as a final stage of propulsion.

The C50HP represents the company’s first large solid rocket motor system entirely conceived and developed in a digital environment utilizing model-based systems engineering. The static fire test not only qualified the motor for flight but also served as a validation of the digital modeling and simulations employed in its design.

By undergoing full pressure and structural qualification testing, the C50HP demonstrated its ability to withstand diverse loads.

The adoption of a digital lifecycle approach is expected to enhance technical performance by enabling engineers to swiftly integrate design and performance requirements into the physical product.