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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 487 records · Page 27

Long-duration firings of a Mariner Mars 1969 catalytic reactor

Two long-duration tests were conducted with a surplus Mariner Mars 1969 monopropellant hydrazine reactor in an attempt to induce the washout phenomenon. The Mariner Mars 1969 reactor was chosen because it has a long development history and thus is well characterized. No washout occurred during either of the two 1000-s tests, although slow transients were observed in the reactor operation during what were nominally steady-state conditions. The 2000-s of operating time represents nearly an order of magnitude increase over the rated life of the engine.

Price, T. W.↗

Planetary explorer liquid propulsion study

An analytical evaluation of several candidate monopropellant hydrazine propulsion system approaches is conducted in order to define the most suitable configuration for the combined velocity and attitude control system for the Planetary Explorer spacecraft. Both orbiter and probe-type missions to the planet Venus are considered. The spacecraft concept is that of a Delta launched spin-stabilized vehicle. Velocity control is obtained through preprogrammed pulse-mode firing of the thrusters in synchronism with the spacecraft spin rate. Configuration selection is found to be strongly influenced by the possible error torques induced by uncertainties in thruster operation and installation. The propulsion systems defined are based on maximum use of existing, qualified components. Ground support equipment requirements are defined and system development testing outlined.

Mckevitt, F. X.↗

Valve, normally closed, titanium Pyronetics model 1426

Performance tests of the explosive actuated, normally closed titanium valve 1426, are outlined. The valves are used to control hydrazine flow in a monopropellant thruster. Data cover pressure tests, internal and external leakage tests, flow control tests, and actuator tests. No failures were noted in any of the tests.

Avalos, E.↗

Investigation of critical burning of fuel droplets

Fuel droplets were simulated by porous spheres having diameters in the range 0.63 to 1.9 cm and combustion tests were conducted at pressures up to 78 atm in a quiescent cold air environment. Measurements were made of the burning rate and liquid surface temperature during steady combustion. A high pressure flat flame burner apparatus is under development in order to allow testing of high pressure droplet burning in a combustion gas environment. Work was continued on the high pressure strand combustion characteristics of liquid fuels, with the major emphasis on hydrazine. Data was obtained on the burning rate and liquid surface temperatures at pressures in the range 7 to 500 psia. The response of a burning liquid monopropellant to imposed pressure oscillations is being investigated.

Allison, C. B.↗

Small rocket exhaust plume data

During recent cryodeposit tests with an 0.18-N thruster, the mass flux in the plume back field was measured for the first time for nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and a mixture of nitrogen, hydrogen, and ammonia at various inlet pressures. This mixture simulated gases that would be generated by a hydrazine plenum attitude propulsion system. The measurements furnish a base upon which to build a mathematical model of plume back flow that will be used in predicting the mass distribution in the boundary region of other plumes. The results are analyzed and compared with existing analytical predictions.

Chirivella, J. E.↗

Preliminary results of large supersonic burning combustor testing.

A hydrogen fueled supersonic-burning combustor 18 in. in diameter, which is equivalent to that of an engine about 6 ft in diameter, was tested as a direct-connected duct at inlet conditions which simulated Mach 8 flight at 115,000 ft alt. A synthetic air consisting of oxygen with 39% nitrogen and 38% water vapor at a total temperature of 4500 deg R and a total pressure of 300 psia was supplied to the combustor inlet by a hydrazine-nitrogen tetroxide hot gas generator which maintained a uniform inlet flow Mach number of 2.8. The large combustor size required a new approach to fuel injector design. Some hydrogen was injected through flush-wall injectors, but most was injected from two rows of swept and tapered struts immersed in the flow stream. Supersonic combustion was obtained at hydrogen equivalence ratios of 0.94 without encountering thermal cho king. Wall static pressures, and the radial distribution of hydrogen, Pitot pressure, and Mach number were determined at the combustor exit.

Metzler, A. J.↗

Low thrust propulsion system effects on communication satellites.

Choice of type and placement of thrusters on spacecraft (s/c) should include consideration of their effects on other subsystems. Models are presented of the exhaust plumes of mercury, cesium, colloid, hydrazine, ammonia, and Teflon rockets. Effects arising from plume impingement on s/c surfaces, radio frequency interference, optical interference, and earth environmental contamination are discussed. Some constraints arise in the placement of mercury, cesium, and Teflon thrusters. Few problems exist with other thruster types, nor is earth contamination a problem.

Hall, D. F.↗

European auxiliary propulsion, 1972

The chemical and electric auxiliary propulsion technology of the United Kingdom, France, and West Germany is discussed in detail, and the propulsion technology achievements of Italy, India, Japan, and Russia are reviewed. A comparison is presented of Shell 405 catalyst and a European spontaneous hydrazine catalyst called CNESRO I. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding future trends in European auxiliary propulsion technology development.

Holcomb, L. B.↗

Development and in-flight performance of the Mariner 9 spacecraft propulsion system

On November 14, 1971, Mariner 9 was decelerated into orbit about Mars by a 1334-newton (300-lbf) liquid bipropellant propulsion system. The development and in-flight performance are described and summarized of this pressure-fed, nitrogen tetroxide/monomethyl hydrazine bipropellant system. The design of all Mariner propulsion subsystems has been predicated upon the premise that simplicity of approach, coupled with thorough qualification and margin-limits testing, is the key to cost-effective reliability. The qualification test program and analytical modeling of the Mariner 9 subsystem are discussed. Since the propulsion subsystem is modular in nature, it was completely checked, serviced, and tested independent of the spacecraft. Proper prediction of in-flight performance required the development of three significant modeling tools to predict and account for nitrogen saturation of the propellant during the six-month coast period and to predict and statistically analyze in-flight data. The flight performance of the subsystem was excellent, as were the performance prediction correlations. These correlations are presented.

Evans, D. D.↗

Attitude propulsion technology for TOPS

The thermoelectric outer planet spacecraft (TOPS) attitude propulsion subsystem (APS) effort is discussed. It includes the tradeoff rationale that went into the selection of an anhydrous hydrazine baseline system, followed by a discussion of the 0.22 N thruster and its integration into a portable, self-contained propulsion module that was designed, developed, and man rated to support the TOPS single-axis attitude control tests. The results of a cold-start feasibility demonstration with a modified thruster are presented. A description of three types of 0.44 thrusters that were procured for in-house evaluation is included along with the results of the test program. This is followed by a description of the APS feed system components, their evaluations, and a discussion of an evaluation of elastomeric material for valve seat seals. A list of new technology items which will be of value for application to future systems of this type is included.

Moynihan, P. I.↗

Toxicology

Oxygen toxicity is examined, including the effects of oxygen partial pressure variations on toxicity and oxygen effects on ozone and nitrogen dioxide toxicity. Toxicity of fuels and oxidizers, such as hydrazines, are reported. Carbon monoxide, spacecraft threshold limit values, emergency exposure limits, spacecraft contaminants, and water quality standards for space missions are briefly summarized.

Macewen, J. W.↗

The development of a non-cryogenic nitrogen/oxygen supply system

Development of the hydrazine/water electrolysis process in a manned spacecraft to provide metabolic oxygen and both oxygen and nitrogen for cabin leakage makeup was studied. Electrode development efforts were directed to stability, achieved with catalyst additives and improved processing techniques, and a higher hydrazine conversion efficiency, achieved by reducing catalyst loading on the cathodes. Extensive testing of the one-man breadboard N2/02 system provided complete characterization of cabin atmosphere control aspects. A detailed design of a prototype modular N2/02 unit was conducted. The contact heat exchanger which is an integral component of this design was fabricated and sucessfully design-verification tested.

Greenough, B. M.↗

Control of Nitrogen Dioxide in Stack Emission by Reaction with Ammonia

The development of an acid base gas-phase reaction system which utilizes anhydrous ammonia as the reactant to remove nitrogen dioxide from hydrazine-nitrogen tetroxide rocket combustion exhaust is reported. This reaction reduced NO2 levels in exhaust emissions so that the resulting stack emission is completely white instead of the earlier observed typical reddish-brown coloration. Preliminary analyses indicate the importance of reaction time and ammonia concentration on removal efficiency and elimination of the health hazard to individuals with respiratory problems.

Metzler, A. J.↗

Reliability model of a monopropellant auxiliary propulsion system

A mathematical model and associated computer code has been developed which computes the reliability of a monopropellant blowdown hydrazine spacecraft auxiliary propulsion system as a function of time. The propulsion system is used to adjust or modify the spacecraft orbit over an extended period of time. The multiple orbit corrections are the multiple objectives which the auxiliary propulsion system is designed to achieve. Thus the reliability model computes the probability of successfully accomplishing each of the desired orbit corrections. To accomplish this, the reliability model interfaces with a computer code that models the performance of a blowdown (unregulated) monopropellant auxiliary propulsion system. The computer code acts as a performance model and as such gives an accurate time history of the system operating parameters. The basic timing and status information is passed on to and utilized by the reliability model which establishes the probability of successfully accomplishing the orbit corrections.

Greenberg, J. S.↗

Test stand for precise measurement of impulse and thrust vector of small attitude control jets

A test stand which accurately measures the impulse bit and thrust vector of reaction jet thrusters used in the attitude control system of space vehicles has been developed. It can be used to measure, in a vacuum or ambient environment, both impulse and thrust vector of reaction jet thrusters using hydrazine or inert gas propellants. The ballistic pendulum configuration was selected because of its accuracy, simplicity, and versatility. The pendulum is mounted on flexure pivots rotating about a vertical axis at the center of its mass. The test stand has the following measurement capabilities: impulse of 0.00004 to 4.4 N-sec (0.00001 to 1.0 lb-sec) with a pulse duration of 0.5 msec to 1 sec; static thrust of 0.22 to 22 N (0.05 to 5 lb) with a 5 percent resolution; and thrust angle alinement of 0.22 to 22 N (0.05 to 5 lb) thrusters with 0.01 deg accuracy.

Woodruff, J. R.↗

An application of a space technique for pollution detection.

Description of the hazardous gas detection system (HGDS) used during Apollo-Saturn launch tests for identifying and analyzing extremely minute amounts of gases escaping during cryogenic loading. These gases included hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, nitrogen tetroxide, and hydrazine N2H3 radical. The heart of the HGDS is a mass spectrometer operating under high vacuum and capable to measure both qualitatively and quantitatively the presence and percentage of any gas whose molecular weight is between 2 and 150 atomic mass units. It is suggested that such a system could be utilized to detect environmental pollutants.

Hall, J. J.↗

Auxiliary power units and their application to the space shuttle.

For the past three years, the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center has been engaged in the analysis of the auxiliary power system requirements for the space shuttle orbiter. This paper presents a brief history of candidate technologies and documents the rationale for the selection of the N2H4 (monopropellant hydrazine) technology for this application. It also includes discussion of some of the vehicle aspects such as the potential integration of propellant supplies with the reaction control system. This material has not been published previously.

Haines, C. D.↗