Technologies for Low CostReusable Launch Vehicles

Eric Besnard, Professor

California State University, Long Beach

(562) 985-5442

besnarde@csulb.edu

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