A liquid propulsion panorama

Liquid-propellant rocket engines are widely used all over the world, thanks to their high performances, in particular high thrust-to-weight ratio. The present paper presents a general panorama of liquid propulsion as a contribution of the IAF Advanced Propulsion Prospective Group.After a brief history of its past development in the different parts of the world, the current status of liquid propulsion, the currently observed trends, the possible areas of future improvement and a summarized road map of future developments are presented. The road map includes a summary of the liquid propulsion status presented in the “Year in review 2007” of Aerospace America.Although liquid propulsion is often seen as a mature technology with few areas of potential improvement, the requirements of an active commercial market and a renewed interest for space exploration has led to the development of a family of new engines, with more design margins, simpler to use and to produce associated with a wide variety of thrust and life requirements.     

Flight demonstration of new thruster and green propellant technology on the PRISMA satellite

The concept of a storable liquid monopropellant blend for space applications based on ammonium dinitramide (ADN) was invented in 1997, within a co-operation between the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI). The objective was to develop a propellant which has higher performance and is safer than hydrazine. The work has been performed under contract from the Swedish National Space Board and ESA. The progress of the development has been presented in several papers since 2000.ECAPS, a subsidiary of the Swedish Space Corporation was established in 2000 with the aim to develop and market the novel “high performance green propellant” (HPGP) technology for space applications. The new technology is based on several innovations and patents w.r.t. propellant formulation and thruster design, including a high temperature resistant catalyst and thrust chamber.The first flight demonstration of the HPGP propulsion system will be performed on PRISMA. PRISMA is an international technology demonstration program with Swedish Space Corporation as the Prime Contractor.This paper describes the performance, characteristics, design and verification of the HPGP propulsion system for PRISMA. Compatibility issues related to using a new propellant with COTS components is also discussed. The PRISMA mission includes two satellites in LEO orbit were the focus is on rendezvous and formation flying. One of the satellites will act as a “target” and the main spacecraft performs rendezvous and formation flying maneuvers, where the ECAPS HPGP propulsion system will provide delta-V capability.The PRISMA CDR was held in January 2007. Integration of the flight propulsion system is about to be finalized.The flight opportunity on PRISMA represents a unique opportunity to demonstrate the HPGP propulsion system in space, and thus take a significant step towards its use in future space applications. The launch of PRISMA scheduled to 2009.     

烃类推进剂航天动力技术进展与展望未来

为研究烃类推进剂航天动力技术在中国的后续发展和未来应用方向,对比分析煤油、甲烷和丙烷等典型烃类推进剂的物理化学性质和应用特性,简要介绍烃类推进剂航天动力在一次性运载火箭、可重复使用运载器、高性能上面级推进、无毒空间推进和吸气式推进领域的发展动态及应用状况。当前国内外航天动力系统的发展和应用情况表明,以液氧煤油发动机和液氧甲烷发动机为代表的烃类推进剂航天动力将引领未来高性能低成本航天推进系统的发展趋势,依照中国液氧/烃火箭发动机的研制进展和技术水平,以其为核心的新型动力体系在中国未来的天地往返、载人登月和深空探测等多任务适应性方面具有良好应用前景。     

New Power for Boosting China's Aerospace Industry

China's new-generation launch vehicle LM-5 successfully completed its maiden launch in November 2016.Among the new technologies applied in the launch vehicle,four types of liquid rocket engines attracted extensive attention.These engines feature advanced concepts and technologies such as a staged combustion cycle and expander cycle.The engines are the results of hard effort of more than ten years,which is also an epitome of the development history of China's aerospace industry.This paper gives a brief introduction to the technological schemes,main parameters,development process and application of the four types of engines that powered the new-generation launch vehicle.Finally,proposals for new liquid propulsion technology development in the future in China are presented.     

The comparative analysis of the forecasts of development of rocket propulsion in past and now

Consideration is being given to use the known long and short forecasts of development of rocket engines in past - at the beginning of development of a missile engineering (K. Tsiolkovsky etc. pioneers of rocket propulsion); on the eve of launching of the artificial satellite of Earth (A. Blagonravov); after manned flight of Yu. Gagarin (V. Gluchko); after manned flight on Moon (“ The Forecasts on 2001 ” on materials of readings R. Goddard in USA); in middle of 70-s' years (D. Sevruk, V. Prisniakov) and at the end of 20 centure. Last years under the initiative R. Beichel and M. Pouliquen IAA. Advanced Propulsion Working Group carries out large researches on definition of the tendencies of development of rocket propulsion for the next forty years, the outcomes which one will be used in the report. The comparison of development of rocket propulsion expected to the end of 20 century and real-life is given. The report analyses the errors of the forecasts of the past - the absence reliable prognostic procedure; the euphoria of the maiden successes of conquest of space; dominance of military and political- propaganda motives of implementation of the space programs before economical; to keep developments secret; competition of two super-powers USSR and USA etc.     

中国运载火箭液体动力系统发展方向研究

阐述了液体动力系统发展规划研究对运载火箭的重要意义,梳理了国外运载火箭液体动力系统发展态势,初步提出我国运载火箭液体动力系统发展需求及重点发展方向规划,为我国运载火箭液体动力系统发展和航天强国建设提供参考。     

微纳卫星混合推进技术研究综述

首先介绍了微纳卫星混合推进系统的特点与优势,总结了星载混合推进技术的发展现状,并结合微纳卫星动力系统要求,指出了星载混合推进技术的发展趋势及存在的问题.然后在此基础上,从卫星工程应用的角度,重点综述了星载混合推进系统需攻克的主要关键技术,包括先进一体化制造、可靠低功耗多次点火启动、比冲提升、高效燃烧等,并分析了相应关键...     

Project of Ariane 5 LV family advancement by use of reusable fly-back boosters (named “Bargouzine”)

The paper concerns possible concept variants of a partially reusable Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle derived from the advanced basic launcher (Ariane-2010) by means of substitution of the EAP Solid Rocket Boosters for a Reusable Starting Stage consisting two Liquid-propellant Reusable Fly-Back Boosters called “Bargouzin”.This paper describes the status of the presently studied RFBB concepts during its three phases.The first project phase was dedicated to feasibility expertise of liquid-rocket reusable fly-back boosters (“Baikal” type) utilization for heavy-lift space launch vehicle. The design features and main conclusions are presented.The second phase has been performed with the purpose of selection of preferable concept among the alternative ones for the future Ariane LV modernization by using RFBB instead of EAP Boosters. The main requirements, logic of work, possible configuration and conclusion are presented. Initial aerodynamic, ballistic, thermoloading, dynamic loading, trade-off and comparison analysis have been performed on these concepts.The third phase consists in performing a more detailed expertise of the chosen LV concept. This part summarizes some of the more detailed results related to flight performance, system mass, thermoprotection system, aspects of technologies, ground complex modification, comparison analyses and conclusion.     

A new generation of space engines

A primary method of launching future spacecraft will be the Space Transportation System (STS). Studies have identified minimum length stages capable of lifting heavy and deployed payloads from the STS low-Earth orbit to geosynchronous Earth orbit using storage or cryogenic propulsion systems.

Aerojet TechSystems is presently developing two engines suitable for these stages, a storable engine in the few thousand pound thrust range, and a cryogenic engine with a thrust of only a few hundred pounds. The stringent life and performance requirements of these engines offer new technical challenges which can only be met through the consequent employment of novel materials and processes for the storable engine and through innovative design concepts for the cryogenic engine. The storable engine breadboard testing has been accomplished, and the flightweight development program will be complete by the end of this decade. A qualified engine is anticipated for service in the early 1990 time frame. The low thrust cryogenic engine lags this storable engine by approximately three years in development and availability.

This paper discusses the technical issues, their solutions, and the development status of these two engines.     

液体火箭发动机健康监控技术研究现状

液体火箭发动机健康监控技术是改进和提高运载火箭、航天器可靠性与安全性的核心技术之一,对其进行研究具有重要的学术价值和工程应用价值。液体火箭发动机健康监控技术的研究主要包括液体火箭发动机故障检测与诊断理论方法、液体火箭发动机健康监控系统两方面。该文介绍了基于模型驱动的方法、基于数据驱动的方法和基于人工智能的方法,阐明了液体火箭发动机故障检测与诊断理论方法的研究现状,通过对美国液体火箭发动机典型健康监控系统的介绍,阐明了液体火箭发动机健康监控系统研究的若干进展及现状,并对液体火箭推进系统健康监控技术的演变趋势作了简要评述。     

空间推进技术需求与发展分析

在分析国内外空间推进技术（内容涵盖了星、船、弹、箭、器等领域）现状的基础上,梳理了空间推进技术的发展趋势和对我国的启示。在对未来任务和技术需求分析的基础上,对空间推进技术的发展趋势进行了预测,对存在的差距进行了分析,提出了发展思路和重点发展方向建议。     

大推力液体火箭发动机推力调节技术综述（英文）

Throttling of large-thrust liquid rocket engines, which can improve mission adaptability of a carrier rocket, reduce risk and facilitate rocket recovery, is a key technology for current and future space development. This paper summarizes the state of the art and trends of throttling technology for large-thrust liquid rocket engines at home and abroad. According to the working principles of propulsion for rocket engines, throttling the propellant flow rate is a major way of adjusting thrust, and regulation devices along with adjustable injectors are primary measures of throttling propellant flow rates. This paper clarifies the working principles of typical regulation devices and adjustable injectors, introduces the regulation schemes of typical large-thrust engines such as YF-100, RD-170, and SSME, and summarizes the main characteristics of current throttleable large-thrust engines. Finally, critical technologies and development trends of throttling are discussed, including combustion stability and reliable cooling of thrust chambers at low thrust levels, turbopump stability, and stable regulation and precise control in a wide range of operating conditions.     

Special regions in Mars exploration: Problems and potential

“Special regions” on Mars are areas designated in the COSPAR planetary protection policy as areas that may support Earth microbes inadvertently introduced to Mars, or that may have a high probability of supporting indigenous martian life. Since absolutely nothing is known about martian life, the operational definition of a special region is a place that may allow the formation and maintenance of liquid water, on or under the surface of Mars. This paper will review the special-regions concept, the implications of recent recommendations on avoiding them, and the work of the Mars science community in providing an operational definition of those areas on Mars that are “non-special.”     

火星环绕器推进系统建模与可视化研究

针对液体推进系统的联合仿真演示需求,基于模块化建模思想,根据守恒方程和状态方程,应用AMESim开发了通用液体火箭发动机组件模块库并建立了推进系统仿真模型,利用Simulink和LabVIEW开发了仿真控制模块和视景仿真模型,搭建了全系统联合仿真环境与平台.结合某型火星环绕器推进系统的任务要求以及具体构成,实现了该火星...     

核热推进载人火星探测方案设计

针对载人火星探测任务，结合我国现有技术基础，提出我国载人火星探测方案，重点研究载人火星探测任务推进系统的设计。首先，综合考虑载人深空探测任务的约束，采用Pork-Chop图设计了适用于不同任务场景的转移轨迹；然后，参考我国空间站技术，基于核热推进系统设计了我国载人火星探测任务的飞船；最后，对核热推进系统的发动机台数和推力进行了优化，得到了适用于不同任务场景的最优推进系统组合方案。本文所研究内容为我国未来载人火星探测任务提供了有益参考。     

Development of the RFBB “Bargouzine” concept for Ariane-5 evolution

This paper presents the study of a concept of Ariane-5 evolution by means of replacement of two solid-propellant boosters EAP with two liquid-propellant reusable fly-back boosters (RFBBs) called “Bargouzine”. The main design feature of the reference RFBB is LOX/LH2 propellant, the canard aerodynamic configuration with delta wings and rocket engines derived from Vulcain-2 identical to that of the central core except for the nozzle length. After separation RFBBs return back by use of air breathing engines mounted in the aft part and then landing on a runway.The aim of the study is a more detailed investigation of critical technology issues concerning reliability, re-usability and maintenance requirements. The study was performed in three main phases: system trade-off, technical consolidation, and programmatic synthesis. The system trade-off includes comparative analysis of two systems with three and four engines on each RFBB and determination of the necessary thrust level taking into account thrust reservation for emergency situations. Besides, this phase contains trade-off on booster aerodynamic configurations and abort scenario analysis.The second phase includes studying of controllability during the ascent phase and separation, thermo-mechanical design, development of ground interfaces and attachment means, and turbojets engine analysis taking into account reusability.     

提升基础研究平台能力,支撑液体动力技术创新发展

从基础理论与设计准则创建、提高产品质量与可靠性、支撑关键技术攻关及引领技术创新发展等层面论述了液体动力技术基础研究的重要性。介绍了俄罗斯、美国、欧洲及日本等相关领域的发展概况,并与国内基础研究情况进行了比较。从优化整合资源、创新体制机制、强化队伍建设及增加研究经费等方面,提出了提升我国液体动力技术基础研究平台能力的对策。     

国外地球同步卫星推进系统研制现状及改进

总结了国我二十多年里地球同步卫星推进系统的研制现状，重点分析和比较了改进后的几个主要推进系统的性能，并根据卫星推进的应用现状和发展趋势提出了我国卫星推进研究的几项建议。     

国外单组元变推力发动机应用与关键技术

介绍了国外单组元变推力发动机的应用现状,阐释了单组元变推力发动机的结构和设计原理,总结了研制和改进过程中的关键技术,主要包括径向双层夹套催化床设计、径向喷注器设计、流量稳定调节技术和催化床空穴控制技术等。美国为火星软着陆研制的MR-80和MR-80B无水肼单组元变推力发动机分别应用于“海盗”号和“好奇”号着陆器下降级推进系统。MR-80发动机可实现275~2835 N变推力调节,推力变比为10∶1,比冲为205 s,呈120°均布于“海盗”号着陆器三角形基座的长边。“好奇”号下降级推进系统由2个高压氦气瓶、3个推进剂贮箱、8台单组元变推力发动机、8台单组元250 N姿控发动机、1个压力控制组件和3个推进剂控制组件组成,MR-80B发动机可产生31~3603 N的真空推力,推力变比达到100∶1,比冲范围为204~223 s。