Propellant Depot

Bernard Kutter United Launch Alliance

Propellant Depot

Bernard Kutter United Launch Alliance

Copyright © 2009 United Launch Alliance, LLC. All Rights Reserved.AIAA_JPC080309

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Propellant Depots Enable New Missions

Delta IVHeavy

Atlas 552

Prop Transfer

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175

Earth Escape Energy (C3)

Ma

ss P

aylo

ad (

mT

)

Lu

na

r S

urf

ace

Tra

ns M

ars

or

GS

O

So

lar

Pro

be

+ P

luto

NH

Large Missions Enabled without Developing Brand New Rocket

Atlas 551

Dual-Launchwith Depot

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Depots Can Enhance CxP Ares V Architecture

EDS/Altair Orion

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 20 40 60 80

Lu

na

r P

aylo

ad

In

cre

ase

W

ith C

ryo

Tra

nsfe

r (m

T)

EDS Propellant Mass Beyond ESAS Baseline (mT)

Prop Xfer

Propellant Depots Provide Exploration Flexibility to

Accommodate Performance Needs

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110t Competitive Propellant Launch

Propellant Depot

80% of Launch Mass

123126

Delta IV ScorpiusAtlas V Falcon 9 CommercialOrion

Altair

Lunar OrbitRendezvous

Propellant Transfer

Propellant Transfer

Atlas V 402

Depots Enable Alternate Architectures

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0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1 2 3 4

Historic Non-Shuttle/Exploration Launch Market

Propellant Depots Can Revolutionize Launch Market

� Exploration Represents Vast New Launch Market

� Depots Stimulate Competitive Launch Market

� Supports Robust Healthy US Launch Industry

Annual Lunar Missions

LEO Launch Mass (mT)

CxP Propellant

CxP Hardware

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Upper Stage Experience Enables Depots

� Depots Derived from Existing Upper Stages Support Near-Term Application

Centaur-Derived “Disposable” Depot

Single Fluid DepotHistoric Space Station

Depot Paradigm

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Depot Technologies are Mature

� Upper Stage Cryo-Fluid Management Directly Applicable to Propellant Depots

55Passive Long Duration Storage

66Fluid Coupling

63Transfer System Operation

77AR&D

88System Chilldown

83Propellant Expulsion Efficiency

93Mass Gauging

93Propellant Acquisition

93Ullage & Liquid Stratification

94Pressure Control

Settled0-G

TRLCryo Transfer Technology

Centaur Delta Ariane

0

800

600

400

200

Cryo-Upper Stage

Operating Time (ksec)

ULA

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Summary

� Propellant Depots Create Vast New Launch Market

–Stimulate Commercial Space Flight Capability

–Increased Launch Demand Supports Healthy Robust Launch Industry

� Joint Utilization of Flight-Proven Systems by NASA, DoD & Commercial Provides a Safe, Affordable & Sustainable Approach to Exploration

–Leverages Existing Investments & Reduces Annual Standalone Lien

� Atlas V & Delta IV Provide Proven Foundation for Reliable, Affordable & Sustainable Launch

–Reduced Launch Vehicle Investment Allows Enhanced Investment in Innovation

� ULA is Prepared to Support the NASA & the Nation