Propellant Mass Fraction (pmf) calculation methods vary throughout the aerospace industry. While typically used as a means of comparison between candidate launch vehicle designs, the actual pmf calculation method varies slightly from one entity to another. It is the purpose of this paper to present various methods used to calculate the pmf of launch vehicles. This includes fundamental methods of pmf calculation that consider only the total propellant mass and the dry mass of the vehicle; more involved methods that consider the residuals, reserves and any other unusable propellant remaining in the vehicle; and calculations excluding large mass quantities such as the installed engine mass. Finally, a historical comparison is made between launch vehicles on the basis of the differing calculation methodologies, while the unique mission and design requirements of the Ares V Earth Departure Stage (EDS) are examined in terms of impact to pmf.
Propellant Mass Fraction Calculation Methodology for Launch Vehicles and Application to Ares Vehicles
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space 2009 conference ; 2009 ; Pasadena, CA, United States
2009-09-14
Conference paper
No indication
English
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2009
|NTIS | 2009
|NTRS | 2009
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