What does the motor designation I220-8 signify about its performance?

The designation I220-8 follows a standard format used in rocketry to convey crucial performance characteristics of solid rocket motors. In this case, the "I" indicates that the motor is classified in the "I" impulse classification, which corresponds to a specific range of total impulse.

The number "220" represents the average thrust the motor produces, measured in Newtons. This indicates that the motor generates a consistent thrust close to 220 Newtons during its burn period. The "8" refers to the burn time of the motor in seconds. Therefore, with this understanding, the motor has a total impulse that falls between 320-640 N-s, which aligns with the I-class designation, and an average thrust of 220 Newtons over its burn time of 8 seconds.

This classification allows rocketeers to select appropriate motors based on their specific needs for flight performance, lift capabilities, and overall design constraints for their rocket designs.