Renovated Program for Production of XM29 Propellant Grains for Sparrow Missile.

In the past, serious problems had arisen relevant to the fast burning characteristics of XM29 propellant grains produced for the Sparrow missile. An exploratory program was therefore conducted to find ways and means of producing slower burning grains which complied with specification requirements of 40 seconds minimum burning time. A renovated program was developed which encompassed the strict surveillance of raw materials and operating procedures in order to assure the production of grains with acceptable ballistic properties.