4.4 Propulsion
4.4 Propulsion
4.4 Propulsion
1 Spacecraft propulsion
Space Mission Design and Operations
Prof. Claude Nicollier Ariane 5, Kourou
● ΔV = change of velocity
● ve = exhaust velocity of the gas in the propulsion system
● mi, mf = initial and final mass
There is a ratio of about 10 between the value of I_sp in seconds and the exhaust velocity in m/s.
Credits: Documention of the training division for NASA astronauts in the 90’s.
Liquid and solid propellant rocket motors
Three cryogenic engines with liquid hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen
as oxidizer. Oxidizer and fuel were contained in an external tank at the
bottom of the Space Shuttle,
OMS engine using internal propellant containing these parts was used
only for on-orbit maneuvers.
Credits: Documention of the training division for NASA astronauts in the 90’s.
Space Mission Design and Operations
SSME – Fuel and oxidizer supply
The liquid-oxygen tank contains about 1,400,000 lbs. of liquid oxygen. The liquid-hydrogen tank Credits: NASA, JSC, Booster
contains about 230,000 lbs. of liquid hydrogen. Systems Briefs, October 1, 1984
Liquids are fed to the three main engines via 17-inch feeds. Space Mission Design and Operations
SSME – Schematic
Various stages of a mission to and from Mars. At each stage, maneuvers are performed, these maneuvers require a certain ΔV and
each ΔV means propellant.
Based on Tsiolkovsky equation, about 90% of the mass of the spacecraft leaving the Earths' surface is propellant, if the mass of the
payload is increased, the propellants have to be considerably increased to leave the gravity well of the Earth.
Space Mission Design and Operations
The propulsion system with a high specific impulse should be very efficient
General remarks about the propulsion in space
The two solid rocket boosters were completely used after about two
minutes, separated from the tank and were falling down in the ocean.
For the 6 and 1/2 minutes of the rest of the ascent into space, for 8 and
1/2 minutes total, only the cryogenic engines were used to bring the
Space Shuttle to the desired velocity and the desired altitude, for the
beginning of its mission.
N.
● 6 kW Hall thruster in
operation at the NASA JPL.