Abstract: A solid fuel rocket burn rate control method wherein grain preheating energy is supplied to the grain region just ahead of the regressing burn face by optical conductors such as fiber optic filaments that are buried in the grain and dispersed across the grain cross section. The optical conductors receive optical energy from one of several types of electrical-to-optical energy transducers such as a semiconductor laser or an incandescent source; the optical conductors promote coning burn action at the burn face of the rocket and allow control of the burn rate by electrically modified optical signals.

Abstract: A solid fuel rocket burn rate control apparatus wherein grain preheating energy is supplied to the grain region just ahead of the regressing burn face by optical conductors such as fiber optic filaments that are buried in the grain and dispersed across the grain cross section. The optical conductors receive optical energy from one of several types of electrical-to-optical energy transducers such as a semiconductor laser or an incandescent source; the optical conductors promote coning burn action at the burn face of the rocket and allow control of the burn rate by electrically modified optical signals.