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Development of Liquid Propulsion Systems Testbed at MSFCAs NASA, the Department of Defense and the aerospace industry in general strive to develop capabilities to explore near-Earth, Cis-lunar and deep space, the need to create more cost effective techniques of propulsion system design, manufacturing and test is imperative in the current budget constrained environment. The physics of space exploration have not changed, but the manner in which systems are developed and certified needs to change if there is going to be any hope of designing and building the high performance liquid propulsion systems necessary to deliver crew and cargo to the further reaches of space. To further the objective of developing these systems, the Marshall Space Flight Center is currently in the process of formulating a Liquid Propulsion Systems testbed, which will enable rapid integration of components to be tested and assessed for performance in integrated systems. The manifestation of this testbed is a breadboard engine configuration (BBE) with facility support for consumables and/or other components as needed. The goal of the facility is to test NASA developed elements, but can be used to test articles developed by other government agencies, industry or academia. Joint government/private partnership is likely the approach that will be required to enable efficient propulsion system development. MSFC has recently tested its own additively manufactured liquid hydrogen pump, injector, and valves in a BBE hot firing. It is rapidly building toward testing the pump and a new CH4 injector in the BBE configuration to demonstrate a 22,000 lbf, pump-fed LO2/LCH4 engine for the Mars lander or in-space transportation. The value of having this BBE testbed is that as components are developed they may be easily integrated in the testbed and tested. MSFC is striving to enhance its liquid propulsion system development capability. Rapid design, analysis, build and test will be critical to fielding the next high thrust rocket engine. With the maturity of the BBE testbed, MSFC propulsion engineering will bring forward a national capability that enables growth of both commercial and government interests.
Document ID
20160007000
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Alexander, Reginald
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Nelson, Graham
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
June 3, 2016
Publication Date
May 16, 2016
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
M16-5134
Meeting Information
Meeting: JANNAF Propulsion Meeting
Location: Newport News, VA
Country: United States
Start Date: May 16, 2016
End Date: May 19, 2016
Sponsors: NASA Headquarters, Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Navy
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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