TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Multi-Burn Solid Rocket

The Department of Energy, through Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), has published a Special Notice advertising a technology licensing opportunity for a Multi-Burn Solid Rocket propulsion system. This innovative technology, recognized as an R&D 100 Winner and protected under US Patent No. 11,859,579-B1, enables multiple independently controllable impulses from a single solid rocket while maintaining the safety, reliability, and performance characteristics of traditional solid rockets. The system can halt and reinitiate combustion cleanly, allowing for complex flight maneuvers with precise thrust modulation and optimal space vehicle orbit placement. The technology addresses critical challenges in rocket propulsion by transforming ignition systems from one-time use to reusable and implementing resettable mechanisms for rapid burn extinguishment. Market applications include aerospace reusable launch vehicles, defense and military systems, commercial satellites, and space tourism.

The purpose of this Special Notice is to promote LANL's technology licensing program and attract commercial partners interested in licensing this patented rocket propulsion technology for development and commercialization. Interested parties have until August 18, 2025, to make contact, though the notice clarifies this is not a call for external services to develop the technology further. Companies seeking licensing arrangements should contact licensing@lanl.gov for specific discussions about exclusive or non-exclusive licensing agreements. The opportunity is open to both existing companies and start-ups looking to incorporate this cutting-edge propulsion technology into their products or services. LANL emphasizes that their licensing program focuses on moving laboratory-developed inventions to commercial innovations, providing companies with potential competitive advantages in aerospace and defense markets.