Technologies for Low Cost Reusable Launch Vehicles Eric Besnard, Professor California State University, Long Beach (562) 985-5442 [email protected] www.csulb.edu/rockets
Dec 16, 2015
Technologies for Low CostReusable Launch Vehicles
Eric Besnard, Professor
California State University, Long Beach
(562) 985-5442
www.csulb.edu/rockets
Technologies for Low Cost RLVsCSU, Long Beach
Background
• California Launch Vehicle Education Initiative – CALVEIN– Partnership between California State University, Long Beach and Garvey
Spacecraft Corporation started in 2001– Participants include educational institutions & industry
• Objectives– Education:
• Provide CSULB undergraduate students with hands-on system development experience: from requirements definition to hardware dev. and flight testing
• Provide CSULB graduate students with opportunities for applied R&D– Technology development:
• Primarily small launch vehicle/booster related• Small scale makes technology compatible with small spacecraft buses: propulsion,
TT&C, GN&C, etc.– Launch
• Provide students from other institutions (USC, Montana State, Stanford, Cal Poly SLO, etc.) with payload integration and flight experience
• Working toward capability for cost-effective delivery of small spacecraft to Low Earth Orbit: NLV (Nanosat Launch Vehicle), 10 kg to LEO
Technologies for Low Cost RLVsCSU, Long Beach
Accomplishments
• 13 liquid-propelled LOX/hydrocarbon (ethanol, methane & propylene) prototype launch vehicles; Many rocket engines: 130 to 4,500 lbf thrust
• Aerospike engines– First ever flight test of liquid-propellant aerospike
rocket engine in 2003 (AvWeek, Sept. 2003)– Currently developing advanced multi-chamber
aerospike engine (MDA)
• Alternative hydrocarbon fuels– 500 lbf thrust LOX/propylene– First ever flight test of LOX/methane rocket engine
(AvWeek, May 5, 2008)
• Composite tanks: use of linerless composite tanks for both propellants, including cryogenic conditions (Prospector-9)
Experience in developing end-to-end liquid propulsion systems, including cryo-cryo (LOX/methane)
First ever LOX/methane flight test with 1,000 lbf thrust engine, 2008
Aerospike engine which led to first ever flight test, 2003
Low cost, reliable, non-toxic RCS CSU, Long Beach
Motivation• Tomorrow’s RLVs, particularly human-rated, require reliable, low cost RCS
Objective of Research• Develop low cost Reaction Control Systems (RCS):
– improved performance when compared with cold gas systems– no operational constraints like that associated with hydrazine thrusters– Examples include use of nitrous oxide as monopropellant
Technical Approach & Results• Review options available and conduct trade studies• Perform preliminary design of selected system• Define development and qualification plan
Health management of composite propellant tanks for cryogenic
propellants CSU, Long Beach
Motivation• Composite materials offer the promise of reduced mass for
propellant tanks• Little operational experience exists beyond DC-XA• Recent developments: linerless tanks• Need for monitoring tanks during life cycle
Objectives of Research• Define qualification criteria (proofing, cycles, etc.)• Define health monitoring approaches during ops.
Technical Approach & Results• Define qualification and operational requirements (burst
pressures, defect sizes, location, cycles, porosity, etc.) • Assess monitoring options available• Develop preliminary qualification plan & monitoring approaches
Aerospike engine performance analysis
CSU, Long Beach
Motivation• Aerospike engines offer the promise of
altitude compensation capability• No flight data exists for transonic, over-
expanded conditions• Ready to flight-test CSULB-developed
1,300 lbf engineObjectives of Research
• Establish correlation between CFD & flight data
• Validate aerospike engine conceptTechnical Approach & Results
• Perform CFD analyses of vehicle/engine interactions
• Compare CFD models with flight data
Advanced 10-C/SiC thruster 1,300 lbf aerospike engine, 2008