One of the major applications of the space station will be to act as a refueling depot for cryogenic-fueled space-based orbital transfer vehicles (OTV), Earth-storable fueled orbit maneuvering vehicles, and refurbishable satellite spacecraft using hydrazine. One alternative for fuel storage at the space station is a tethered orbital refueling facility (TORF), separated from the space station by a sufficient distance to induce a gravity gradient force that settles the stored fuels. The technical feasibility was examined with the primary focus on the refueling of LO2/LH2 orbital transfer vehicles. Also examined was the tethered facility on the space station. It was compared to a zero-gravity facility. A tethered refueling facility should be considered as a viable alternative to a zero-gravity facility if the zero-gravity fluid transfer technology, such as the propellant management device and no vent fill, proves to be difficult to develop with the required performance.


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    Title :

    Tethered Orbital Refueling Study


    Contributors:
    D. A. Fester (author) / L. K. Rudolph (author) / E. R. Kiefel (author) / P. W. Abbott (author) / P. Grossrode (author)

    Publication date :

    1986


    Size :

    150 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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    A Space Station tethered orbital refueling facility

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