Metallized propellant propulsion systems are considered as replacements for the solid rocket boosters and liquid sustainer stages on the current launch vehicles: both the Space Transportation System (STS) and the Titan 4. Liquid rocket boosters for the STS were analyzed as replacements for current solid rocket boosters. These boosters can provide a liquid propulsion system within the volume constraints of a solid rocket booster. A replacement for the Space Shuttle Main Engines using metallized O2/H2/Al was studied. The liquid stages of the Titan 4 were also investigated; the Aerozine-50 (A-50) fuel was replaced with metallized storable A-50/Al. A metallized propellant is similar to a traditional liquid propellant. However, it has metal particles, such as aluminum, that are suspended in a gelled fuel, such as hydrogen, RP-1, A-50 or monomethyl hydrazine (MMH). The fuels then undergo combustion with liquid oxygen or nitrogen tetroxide (NTO). These propellants provide options for increasing the performance of existing launch vehicle chemical propulsion systems by increasing fuel density or specific impulse or both. These increases in density and specific impulse can significantly reduce the propulsion system liftoff weight and allow a liquid rocket booster to fit into the same volume as an existing solid rocket booster. Also, because gelled fuels are akin to liquid propellants, metallized systems can provide enhanced controllability over solid propulsion systems. Gelling of the propellant also reduces the sensitivity to impacts and consequently reduces the propellant explosion hazard.
Launch Vehicle Performance Using Metallized Propellants
1991
16 pages
Report
No indication
English
Rocket Engines & Motors , Rocket Propellants , Aluminum , Gelled rocket propellants , Liquid propellant rocket engines , Liquid rocket propellants , Metal particles , Metal propellants , Propellant additives , Propulsion system performance , Aerozine , Hydrazines , Hydrogen , Liquid oxygen , Methylhydrazine , Nitrogen tetroxide , Space shuttle boosters , Space shuttle main engine , Specific impulse , Titan launch vehicles
Launch vehicle performance using metallized propellants
NTRS | 1991
|Launch vehicle performance using metallized propellants
NTRS | 1991
|Launch vehicle performance using metallized propellants
AIAA | 1991
|Launch vehicle performance using metallized propellants
AIAA | 1994
|Launch Vehicle Performance Using Metallized Propellants
Online Contents | 1994
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