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8542907 
Book/Book Chapter 
Qualification and pedigree of the shock tube assembly (STA) 
Westergard, MJ 
2000 
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 
Reston, VA 
36th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit 
English 
is part of a larger document 8222349 36th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit 2000
The Ensign-Bickford Company (EBCo) has successfully completed qualification of the Shock Tube Assembly (STA). First flight of the STA occurred in early 1999 as part of the Delta II Stardust mission. To date, about 3,000 STAs have been manufactured and delivered for the Delta vehicle, and about 500 STAs have been manufactured for the JSOW missile. The STA is an explosive transfer assembly, used to pyroteehnically initiate devices. It consists of a flexible plastic extruded tube, with a thin layer of HMX/Aluminum explosives coated on the ID of the cord. Each end of the assembly terminates in a donor/receptor end fitting with a 1 grain high explosive or a pyrotechnic charge. The extruded tube is protected with a stainless steel over braid. The STA is qualified for use on the Delta II and III launch vehicles. It is used, in conjunction with other devices, to ignite and later separate the Strap-on Solid Rocket Motors (SSRMs), and to initiate the expanding tube assemblies for stage separation. The STA is also currently undergoing testing at the Naval Surface Wafare Center (NSWC) Tri-Service Qualification Program, which will qualify the STA for use on the US Navy F-18, T-45, and the Air Force F-16, B-l, B-2, and others. The STA is used in the actuation of canopy emergency egress systems. Other pedigree also includes a qualified design for the JSOW missile, where the STA is used to initiate gas generators for submunition dispensing. This paper will provide an overview of the STA's design, qualification, and pedigree. © The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. All rights reserved. 
36th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit 2000 
Huntsville, AL 
July 16-19, 2000