A planned function of the Space Station is to refurbish and refuel an advanced space-based LO2/LH2 orbit transfer vehicle. An alternative to propellant storage at the station is to use a remote facility tied to the station with a long tether. Preliminary design of such a facility is described with emphasis on fluid transfer and storage requirements. Using tether lengths of at least 300 ft, gravity gradient forces will dominate surface tension in such a system. Although gravity driven transfer is difficult because of line pressure drops, fluid settling over the tank outlet greatly alleviates acquisition concerns and will facilitate vented tank fills. The major concern with a tethered orbital refueling facility is its considerable operational complexity including transport of the OTV to and from the facility.
A Space Station tethered orbital refueling facility
1985-07-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
A Space Station tethered orbital refueling facility
AIAA | 1985
|Space Station tethered refueling facility operations
NTRS | 1986
|Space Station tethered refueling facility operations
AIAA | 1986
|Propellant Tanks for Tethered Orbital Refueling Facility
NTRS | 1987
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