Abstract : Enhanced burn rates of JA-2 solid granular propellant through plasma ignition is evident. Burn rates increased by about a factor of 3 compared to conventional ignition, when plasma is injected normal to the surface of the propellant sample. Geometrical influence on JA-2 burn rates with plasma ignition showed increased burn rate with increased angle of injection. Time-averaged plasma temperatures of 0.8 to 1.2 eV and plasma densities of 2 x 10(exp 23) to 4.5 x 10(exp 23 m-3 have been deduced from relative intensities and stark broadening of copper lines. Erosive burn may be affected by formation of new surface areas governed by the initial level of plasma-propellant interaction. Increased neutral constituents at the plasma-propellant interface at larger injection angles may also be responsible for the observed decrease in line intensity. The vapor shield plasma at the flame temperature has a strong effect on radiative heating, the boundary layer becomes optically thick and absorbs a large fraction of the incoming energy. Plasma boundary layer temperature is less than that of the core plasma showing an energy transmission factor of less than 10% at large inclination angles, suggesting that plasma kinetic pressure has a stronger effect on the burn rate than the plasma radiative heat flux.