NASA is considering propulsion system concepts for future missions including human return to the lunar surface. Studies have identified cryogenic methane (LCH4) and oxygen (LO2) as a desirable propellant combination for the lunar surface ascent propulsion system, and they point to a surface stay requirement of 180 days. To meet this requirement, a test article was prepared with state-of-the-art insulation and tested in simulated lunar mission environments at NASA GRC. The primary goals were to validate design and models of the key thermal control technologies to store unvented methane for long durations, with a low-density high-performing Multi-layer Insulation (MLI) system to protect the propellant tanks from the environmental heat of low Earth orbit (LEO), Earth to Moon transit, lunar surface, and with the LCH4 initially densified. The data and accompanying analysis shows this storage design would have fallen well short of the unvented 180 day storage requirement, due to the MLI density being much higher than intended, its substructure collapse, and blanket separation during depressurization. Despite the performance issue, insight into analytical models and MLI construction was gained. Such modeling is important for the effective design of flight vehicle concepts, such as in-space cryogenic depots or in-space cryogenic propulsion stages.
Methane Lunar Surface Thermal Control Test
2012
15 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Astronomy & Astrophysics , Extraterrestrial Exploration , Methane , Temperature control , Liquid rocket propellants , Ascent propulsion systems , Cryogenic fluids , Lunar surface , Manned space flight , Multilayer insulation , Liquid oxygen , Pressurizing , Propellant storage , Low earth orbits , Pressure reduction , Long duration space flight , Test facilities
Methane Lunar Surface Thermal Control Test
NTRS | 2012
|THERMAL CONTROL ON THE LUNAR SURFACE
Online Contents | 1995
|Thermal control on the lunar surface
NTRS | 1995
|Lunar surface thermal characteristics
NTRS | 1966
|Indigenous lunar methane and ethane
NTRS | 1970
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