The limit of the steady combustion of powder charges of different leng
ths has been studied in a model combustion chamber of a solid-propella
nt motor. The value of the critical apparatus constant at which powder
extinction occurs teas determined. Combustion regimes in which the ch
amber pressure can be much lower than that in the steady combustion re
gime were recorded for long charges. The causes of occurrence of these
combustion regimes are discussed.