Advanced propulsion systems for polar-orbiting and coorbiting free flyers were investigated. Resistojet, arcjet, ion, magnetoplasmadynamic and chemical-bipropellant nitrogen tetroxide/monomethyl hydrazine (NTO/MMH) propulsion systems were compared to the baseline free-flyer hydrazine (N2H4)-propulsion-system performance. Advanced resistojet, arcjet, ion, and NTO/MMH propulsion systems enable significant propellant-mass savings over the baseline N2H4-propulsion system. Using free-flyer mission requirements from the Langley Research Center Mission-Data Base, detailed propulsion requirements for over thirty free-flyer missions were analyzed. The Polar-Platform trip-time constraints may preclude using a low-thrust electric-propulsion system. Electric propulsion will, however, allow a significant coorbiter propellant-mass reduction. Frequent servicing and nodal-regression effects on the coorbiting free-flyer's orbit increase the required mission velocity change and propellant mass. For many coorbiter missions high-specific-impulse resistojet-, arcjet- and ion-propulsion systems allow substantial life-cycle propellant-mass savings.
Advanced propulsion for polar-orbiting and coorbiting free flyers
1986-06-01
Conference paper
No indication
English