Small cryogenic propulsion unit for upper stage application

The feasibility study was conducted to use the cryogenic propulsion system for the third stage of the future H-1 vehicle. While the $\text{LO}{}_2\text{LH}{}_2$ third-stage mass fraction is less than the current solid propellant third stage, the 50% higher Isp results in a significantly higher payload. Two basic configurations of the new propulsion system were proposed: one pressure-fed system and two pump-fed systems. The first is a pressure-fed system providing a 700 kg thrust at an Isp of 441 sec with restart capability. The second is a pump-fed system, operating on an expander cycle principle. A midget turbopump with a 90 000 rpm shaft speed feeds the thrust chamber which delivers 1 ton of thrust at an Isp of 471 sec. The third proposed system is also a pump-fed design using a unique expander bleed cycle, and delivers a 1 ton thrust at an Isp of 470 sec with a turbopump speed of 80 000 rpm. The results of engine testing predict the performance feasibility of respective propulsion system designs.     

Benefits from incorporation of combined cycle propulsion

The X-33 program was initiated to develop a testbed for integrated RLV technologies that pave the way for a full scale development of a launch vehicle (Venture Star). Within the Nasa Future X Trailblazer program there is an Upgrade X-33 that focuses on materials and upgrades. The authors propose that the most significant gains can be realized by changing the propulsion cycle, not materials. The cycles examined are rocket cycles, with the combustion in the rocket motor. Specifically, these rocket cycles are: turbopump, topping, expander, air augmented, air augmented ram, LACE and deeply cooled. The vehicle size, volume, structural weight remain constant. The system and propellant tank weights vary with the propulsion system cycle. A reduction in dry weight, made possible by a reduced propellant tank volume, was converted into payload weight provided sufficient volume was made available by the propellant reduction. This analysis was extended to Venture Star for selected engine cycles. The results show that the X-33 test bed could carry a significant payload to LEO (10,000 Ib) and be a valuable test bed in developing a frequent flight to LEO capability. From X-33 published information the maximum speed is about 15,000 ft/sec. With a LACE rocket propulsion system Venture Star vehicle could be sized to a smaller vehicle with greater payload than the Venture Star baseline. Vehicle layout and characteristics were obtained from: http:// www.venturestar.com.     

Thrust chamber health monitoring

With the arrival of the reusable space propulsion systems, the new field of propulsion system health monitoring is emerging. Health monitoring consists of measuring and reviewing engine operating parameters which will warn of engine deterioration or abnormal operation well in advance of any failure. The health monitoring data can be used to establish that an engine should be repaired or replaced, thereby avoiding a future flight failure. This paper presents a status report on the development of a health monitoring system for regeneratively cooled thrust chambers. The system employs a single measurement with a simple nonintrusive sensor to monitor the operation of the engine. The basic measuring and sensor concept is explained and the results of both laboratory and engine firing tests with the health monitoring system are presented.     

Optimum design of power-limited propulsion systems with application to fast Earth-to-Mars transfer

Power-limited systems with variable Isp, which have been studied theoretically since the beginning of astronautics, are getting closer to practical applications thanks to recent technological advances in the field of magnetosplasma rockets, such as Ad-Astra’s VASIMR concept. This type of propulsion system is considered for high-speed interplanetary transfers, such as Mars missions, with demanding payload fractions that would be compatible with manned missions. This paper explores the problem of the optimization of a power-limited propulsion system through simple performance models, and investigates the trade-off between the technological requirements, the transfer time and the payload fraction¹. Following previous works existing in literature, we model the technological characteristics of the vehicle through a small number of parameters, the most important of which being the specific weight (or mass-to-power ratio) of the power generation system. Also, we use in our models the classical “trajectory characteristic” parameter (defined as the integral over time of the squared thrust acceleration) which represents – under certain hypotheses – the propulsion requirements for an orbital or interplanetary transfer with a given time and a given thrust strategy. In this paper, we first give a review of existing methods in literature, then we present the equations of a new class of optimal design which maximizes the payload fraction, for a given transfer time and given technological characteristics. This class of optimal design is described through very simple equations that make possible to study more straightforwardly than existing calculations the links between the main mission requirements (transfer time and payload fraction) and the main technological requirements (specific weight of the power generation and structure mass ratio of the whole vehicle, excluding the power generation system). One important result obtained from these equations is a simple expression which estimates the theoretical upper limit of the power source’s specific weight as a function of transfer time and the payload mass ratio. In the last part of this paper, we apply this simple performance model to discuss the feasibility of a fast Earth-to-Mars transfer using a power-limited system.     

Single crystal mo solar thermal thruster for microsatellites

One potentially attractive propulsion concept offering significant payload gains for orbit transfer from LEO to higher orbits, station keeping and attitude control of spacecraft is thermal propulsion using light gas (typically hydrogen) as propellant and various kinds of heat energy. Solar Thermal Propulsion (STP) is a typical thermal propulsion with high Isp (500 – 1,000 s) in an appropriate thrust magnitude range and provides possibly much less space pollution than conventional chemical propulsion.

This paper presents the test results of a 30 mm dia. (medium-sized) windowless type of single crystal Mo thruster for orbit transfer of 50 kg class microsatellites. The cavity dia. is 20 mm, double the size of the previous model, and can apply to a primary solar reflector of up to 3.5 m dia., which is the maximum size containable in the H-II rocket fairing without segmentation. The performed mission analyses indicate that this size of STP is suitable to orbit transfer of 50 kg class microsatellites, such as LEO to GEO, or only multiple apogee kicks from GTO to GEO or deep space missions.     

A ballistic-pendulum test stand to characterize small cold-gas thruster nozzles

This paper deals with the design, development and experimentation of a new test stand for the accurate and precise characterization of small cold-gas nozzles having thrust of the order of 0.1 N and specific impulse of the order of 10 s. As part of the presented research, a new cold-gas supersonic nozzle was designed and developed based on the quasi one-dimensional theory. The test stand is based on the ballistic-pendulum principle: in particular, it consists of a suspended gondola hosting the propulsion system and the sample nozzle. The propulsion system consists of an air tank, pressure regulator, solenoid valve, battery and digital timer to command the valve. The gondola is equipped with a fin, immersed in water, to provide torsional and lateral oscillation damping. A laser sensor measures the displacement of the gondola. The developed test stand was calibrated by using a mathematical model based on the inelastic collision theory. The obtained accuracy was of ～1%. Sample experimental results are reported regarding the comparison of the new supersonic nozzle with a commercially available subsonic nozzle. The obtained measurements of thrust, mass flow rate and specific impulse are precise to a level of ～3%. The broad goal of the presented research was to contribute to an upgraded design of a spacecraft simulator used for laboratory validation of guidance, navigation and control algorithms for autonomous docking manoeuvres.     

飞行器固体火箭助推器设计优化方法比较

综合考虑飞行器总体设计约束、轨道设计、气动特性与固体火箭助推器设计间相互影响的情况下,建立了飞行器固体火箭助推器总体/气动/轨道/动力多学科的系统分析模型和设计优化模型。采用传统设计优化方法和多学科设计优化(MDO)方法进行了固体火箭助推器设计优化。结果表明,固体推进单学科的最优设计不等价于飞行器总体多学科的最优设计;与传统设计优化方法相比,MDO方法一次设计优化就可得到满足飞行器总体设计指标的最优设计,得到内外弹道相匹配的助推器最优推力-时间曲线。传统设计优化方法需要飞行器总体和固体推进学科两个设计优化过程不断迭代协调,容易漏掉满足飞行器总体设计指标的最优设计。采用MDO方法,可提高固体火箭助推器的设计质量,大大减少设计迭代次数,从而缩短设计周期。     

塞式喷管多参数性能优化计算

从影响塞式喷管推力性能的因素中总结出内喷管倾角，内膨胀比、总膨胀比，燃气总压和飞行高度这五个主要因素，并以推力最大为目标函数运用枚举和逐层优化的方法对上述五个参数的取值进行优化计算，提出了对这五个参数进行优化取值的方法并得到了相关结论，其结论可为实际的塞式喷管发动机设计研制提供部分的理论依据。指导相关设计参数的确定。     

核热火箭发动机系统循环方案分析与设计

核热火箭发动机是未来实现载人火星探测的首选动力方案,其具备高比冲、大推力和长工作寿命等优点。我国在此方面研究较少,亟需开展核热推进技术理论及方法的研究。核热火箭发动机系统循环分析与设计是关键问题之一,对推进系统总体设计有重要意义。分析了3种可用于核热火箭发动机系统循环的方案特点,基于闭式膨胀循环设计了比冲为910 s ...     

Research on hypersonic aircraft using pre-cooled turbojet engines

Systems analysis of a Mach 5 class hypersonic aircraft is performed. The aircraft can fly across the Pacific Ocean in 2 h. A multidisciplinary optimization program for aerodynamics, structure, propulsion, and trajectory is used in the analysis. The result of each element model is improved using higher accuracy analysis tools. The aerodynamic performance of the hypersonic aircraft is examined through hypersonic wind tunnel tests. A thermal management system based on the data of the wind tunnel tests is proposed. A pre-cooled turbojet engine is adopted as the propulsion system for the hypersonic aircraft. The engine can be operated continuously from take-off to Mach 5. This engine uses a pre-cooling cycle using cryogenic liquid hydrogen. The high temperature inlet air of hypersonic flight would be cooled by the same liquid hydrogen used as fuel. The engine is tested under sea level static conditions. The engine is installed on a flight test vehicle. Both liquid hydrogen fuel and gaseous hydrogen fuel are supplied to the engine from a tank and cylinders installed within the vehicle. The designed operation of major components of the engine is confirmed. A large amount of liquid hydrogen is supplied to the pre-cooler in order to make its performance sufficient for Mach 5 flight. Thus, fuel rich combustion is adopted at the afterburner. The experiments are carried out under the conditions that the engine is mounted upon an experimental airframe with both set up either horizontally or vertically. As a result, the operating procedure of the pre-cooled turbojet engine is demonstrated.     

关于RBCC动力系统的思考

回顾了RBCC动力系统研发的历程和趋势,分析了RBCC动力系统的速度、高度等基本特性。建议RBCC动力系统研发应致力于火箭发动机与冲压发动机功能的拓展与完善,注重综合性能的提高;加强与飞行器一体化设计,考虑进气道、燃烧室、尾喷管及燃油供应系统的共用;依据具体飞行器方案开展关键技术攻关和基础技术研究;首先开展临近空间高速、机动飞行器动力系统研发,针对两级入轨动力系统之二级开展关键技术攻关。     

发动机喷流对飞行器飞行姿态影响的研究

针对某型导弹的实际飞行结果，在对立了合理的发动机推力模型及喷流模型的基础上，采用多学科的一体化仿真方法，重点研究了发动机喷流干扰对该型导弹飞行性能的影响。结果表明发动机喷流与发动机推力偏心及偏斜的共同作用将对飞行器飞行姿态和弹道产生显著影响，在飞行控制系统的仿真研究与参数整定中应综合考虑这些因素。     

面向任务的电推进航天器性能优化与控制

针对电推进(EP)系统的性能与任务耦合优化及控制问题,提出一种基于电推进特征参数模型的耦合优化方法。以入轨有效载荷质量转移率最优为目标,推导出化学-电推进组合任务与多模态全电推进任务的完备形式的拓展火箭方程与最优比冲(Isp)表达式,得到多模态连续电推进最优比冲的计算方法,并得到相关参数对最优比冲的影响规律。结果表明,提出的耦合优化方法与最优比冲公式对求解多模态电推进任务的最优比冲和研究电推进航天器耦合优化控制问题具有指导意义和通用性。     

Optimal interplanetary rendezvous combining electric sail and high thrust propulsion system

The aim of this paper is to study, from a mission analysis point of view, the performance of a hybrid propulsion concept for a two-dimensional transfer towards a planet of the Solar System. The propulsion system is obtained by combining a chemical thruster, used for the phases of Earth escape and/or target planet capture, with an electric sail, which provides a continuous thrust during the heliocentric transfer. Two possible mission scenarios are investigated: in the first case the sailcraft reaches the target planet with zero hyperbolic excess velocity, thus performing a classical rendezvous mission in a heliocentric framework. In the second mission scenario, a given final hyperbolic excess velocity relative to the planet is tolerated in order to decrease the mission flight time. The amount of final hyperbolic excess velocity is used as a simulation parameter for a tradeoff study in which the minimum flight time is related to the total velocity variation required by the chemical thruster to accomplish the mission, that is, for Earth escape and planetary capture.     

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。     

Autonomous navigation and guidance system for low thrust driven deep space missions

Presented herein is a concept of an Autonomous Navigation & Guidance System for electrically propelled deep space missions, including hardware configuration, algorithms for autonomous navigation and guidance, and estimates of potential guidance precision and mass consumption. This concept is actually a unified Navigation, Guidance and Attitude Control system. The unification is imposed by strong coupling between the orbital motion and the spacecraft attitude characteristic of low thrust space flights. The sensor set of the system consists of an optical instrument (Coupled Sun Star Tracker), and a block of four vector accelerometers. The propulsion subsystem is a set of nearly parallel Hall thrusters rigidly attached to the spacecraft body. The final stage of data processing is combining the thrust and torque programs and generating power and mass rate shares for every thruster. An end-to-end computer simulation provides guidance accuracy estimates versus the navigation data precision, flight time and available maximum thrust. Terminal guidance errors of a few tens of km in position and a few tens of cm/s in velocities are predicted under plausible assumptions on system parameters. Mass expenditures for the control are typically below one percent of total fuel mass budget.     

可贮存推进剂泵压式液体火箭发动机多次起动系统研究

在推力超过一定量级、任务时间较长的情况下,泵压式发动机比挤压式发动机具有明显的技术优势。从国内外上面级及重型空间飞行器推进系统的发展需求来看,均要求其主发动机具有多次起动工作的能力。针对采用可贮存推进剂的泵压式液体发动机多次起动需求,对几种可选的多次起动系统方案进行了比较分析,介绍了起动箱式起动系统的研究情况。     

Stabilization and steering of a parabolic laser thermal thruster with an ignition device

High energy pulses of a CO₂ laser are focused in a parabolic mirror yielding to a laser-supported detonation. The generated thrust acting on the reflector as a bell nozzle is studied in multiple pulse free flight experiments with respect to axial, lateral and angular momentum coupling. The employment of an ignition pin on the reflector's axis of symmetry lowering the ignition threshold by several orders of magnitude is found to provide for a reproducible detonation process. The axial momentum coupling of each pulse is analyzed with respect to initial lateral offset and tilt during the flight. High speed analyses of recorded flights indicate that lateral momentum components occur re-centering the thruster on the beam. Thrust vector steering can be realized by tilt of the ignition pin inside the thruster, thus shifting the detonation. A design model of a laser-driven rocket including a remotely accessible steering gear was developed and tested successfully.     

Atlas II and IIA analyses and environments validation

General Dynamics has now flown all four versions of the Atlas commercial launch vehicle, which cover a payload weight capability to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) in the range of 5000–8000 lb. The key analyses to set design and environmental test parameters for the vehicle modifications and the ground and flight test data that validated them were prepared in paper IAF-91-170 for the first version, Atlas I.

This paper presents similar data for the next two versions, Atlas II and IIA. The Atlas II has propellant tanks lengthened by 12 ft and is boosted by MA-5A rocket engines uprated to 474,000 lb liftoff thrust. GTO payload capability is 6225 lb with the 11-ft fairing. The Atlas IIA is an Atlas II with uprated RL10A-4 engines on the lengthened Centaur II upper stage. The two 20,800 lb thrust, 449 s specific impulse engines with an optional extendible nozzle increase payload capability to GTO to 6635 lb. The paper describes design parameters and validated test results for many other improvements that have generally provided greater capability at less cost, weight and complexity and better reliability. Those described include: moving the MA-5A start system to the ground, replacing the vernier engines with a simple 50 lb thrust on-off hydrazine roll control system, addition of a POGO suppressor, replacement of Centaur jettisonable insulation panels with fixed foam, a new inertial navigation unit (INU) that combines in one package a ring-laser gyro based strapdown guidance system with two MIL-STD-1750A processors, redundant MIL-STD-1553 data bus interfaces, robust Ada-based software and a new Al-Li payload adapter. Payload environment is shown to be essentially unchanged from previous Atlas vehicles. Validation of load, stability, control and pressurization requirements for the larger vehicle is discussed.

All flights to date (five Atlas II, one Atlas IIA) have been successful in launching satellites for EUTELSAT, the U.S. Air Force and INTELSAT. Significant design parameters validated by these flights are presented. Particularly noteworthy has been the performance of the INU, which has provided average GTO insertion errors of only 10 miles apogee, 0.2 miles perigee and 0.004 degrees inclination. It is concluded that Atlas II/IIA have successfully demonstrated probably the largest number of current state-of-the-art components of any expendable launch vehicle flying today.     

空天飞行器六自由度数学建模研究

研究了空天飞行器超声速和高超声速飞行条件下六自由度仿真模型,该模型包含了完整的六自由度动力学方程和运动方程。气动力和力矩系数是迎角、马赫数及控制舵面偏角的函数;发动机模型为吸气发动机和变推力火箭发动机的组合推进装置;飞行器的质心;惯性矩是飞行器质量的时变函数。所得结果可以用于未来高超声速飞行器或新一代单级入轨运载器轨迹优化、姿态控制等问题的概念设计和仿真研究。