Ammonium Perchlorate Sovereign Manufacturing

Project overview

Black Sky Aerospace (BSA) proposes to manufacture Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) locally, for the civilian space market initially, with cheaper and faster turnaround times. Export and Defence markets will follow.

Solid Rocket Propellant is one variety of the fuel that drives rockets skyward. Burning at more than 2,000 degrees Celsius, it is a complex, highly energetic and precise chemical mixture that can be cast in a variety of shapes and sizes. When a special formula containing an oxidiser and a fuel are combined, a highly combustible reaction creates the thrust to launch the fastest and most complex machines ever built.

The oxidiser, which makes up on average, 70% of the propellant formula, known as Ammonium Perchlorate (NH4ClO4), is not currently manufactured in Australia. This means the entire space launch and defence industries are captive to importing the largest component of the Solid Rocket Fuel needed to make their products work.

Producing Ammonium Perchlorate in Australia will also mean customers won’t have to send their products overseas to be filled with foreign solid rocket propellant and then imported back to Australia again – a process also constrained by foreign regulations. BSA can supply a significant export market for countries also burdened with these regulations.

This project will lead to the local manufacture of a vital major component for solid rocket propellant that is not currently produced in Australia. It will have immediate benefits to fulfil requirements of Australia’s growing Space Industry.

Project Impact

Expected Impact

• Increased spending on R&D
• Increased number of staff with science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) skills
• Better qualified employees
• Larger patent portfolio
• Increased levels of automation
• Larger geographical reach

Expected Growth

• Black Sky Aerospace forecast $8M in revenue over 5 years

Expected Jobs

• This project is projected to upskill and create an additional 9 jobs

Project Contributions