Error Analysis of the Shuttle Reaction Control System Propellant Gaging Module

Abstract

An investigation of the Shuttle Reaction Control System (RCS) propellant gaging module has revealed that the gaging errors due to the combined effects of random instrumentation measurement errors and propellant loading uncertainties are non-linear over the range of the propellant quantity gage (0-100%), with the largest error occurring at the zero point. When the RCS propellant tanks are filled to contain 100% of the maximum usable propellant, the largest gaging error was determined to be 3.9% for the fuel and 5.4% for the oxidizer. When the RCS propellant tanks initially contain 50% of the maximum usable propellant, the largest gaging error increases to 4.0% for the fuel and 5.6% for the oxidizer.