Orbiting propellent depot safety. Volume 2: Technical discussion

Abstract

The results of a study assessing the gross requirements and concomitant safety hazards associated with the operation of several configurations of orbiting propellant depots (OPD) are presented. The major structural and operational aspects of the integral, semimodular, and modular concepts are described. The concepts are evaluated to determine their safety hazards, and emphasis is placed on propellant transfer to and from the OPD. The study indicates that a modular mode of depot resupply is desirable regardless of the OPD configuration. This resupply mode requires no flow transfer to resupply either the semimodular or modular OPD. Of the three concepts, the semimodular appears to provide the best operational advantage and lowest safety risk.