In-Space Cryogenic Propellant Depot stepping stone

Howell, Joe T.; Mankins, John C.; Fikes, John

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2006.02.019

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Numerous technologies have been developed to support sustainable space exploration. This includes In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies from the resources on the Moon, Phobos, Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/actaastro Deimos, and Mars [2][3][4][5], on-orbit propellant storage depot with its temperature control technologies [6][7][8][9], and novel rocket propulsion technologies such as nuclear thermal rockets (NTR) and advanced chemical propulsion [10][11][12]. Most of these technologies have been developed separately, and there have been little research about how to optimally combine them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic modeling and optimization for space logistics using time-expanded networks

Ho¹,

Weck²,

Hoffman³

et al. 2014

Acta Astronautica

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic modeling and optimization for space logistics using time-expanded networks

Ho¹,

Weck²,

Hoffman³

et al. 2014

Acta Astronautica

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“…1, 2 Without significant breakthroughs in propulsion system technology, the fastest approach to create a more economical exploration architecture is to determine a more efficient method to deliver and store propellant in orbit. Past studies [3][4][5][6] have examined the potential benefits of the utilization of orbiting propellant depots, with emphasis on low Earth orbit operation. Recently, there has been an emphasis on placing architecture assets in cis-lunar space, particularly the Earth-Moon Lagrangian points.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Station Keeping for Earth-Moon Lagrangian Point Exploration Architectural Assets

Chai

Wilhite

2012

AIAA SPACE 2012 Conference &Amp; Exposition

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The 2010 National Space Policy set wide reaching goals for the United States space program, however these milestones are in serious jeopardy due the economic down turn and budget restrictions. There is an increasing need to examine the current exploration architecture to determine if there are more economical, yet still technically feasible options. The Earth-Moon Lagrangian points in the cis-lunar space have long been proposed as staging points to enable lunar colonization and missions to Mars and other planetary bodies. The placement of an orbital propellant depot near Lagrangian points enables a more robust and economical way to accomplish NASA's exploration goals. The primary technical challenge of placing assets near the L1 and L2 points is the inherent instability of orbits around the Lagrangian points. Trajectory simulation of in-plane Lyapunov orbit shows that near the Earth-Moon L1 point, the station keeping cost decreases as the orbital altitude decreases, however, the insertion cost increases as the altitude decreases. Similar trajectory simulation shows that a 9,000km altitude L2 Lyapunov orbit provides a minimum station keeping cost as well as low insertion cost. The phasing of the Earth-Moon orbital plane makes the departure orbit inclination a viable candidate for optimization as well.

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“…Further development of the compression gauge, with both oscillatory and single-pulse modes, is still deemed highly worthwhile, however, for the ISCPD Project; it was decided to replace the CMG with a radio-frequency mass gauging (RF) technique as a more suitable concept for a depot (ref. 6).…”

Section: Low Gravity Mass Gaugingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It concluded that, with water as the test fluid, capillary screen meshes of sizes typically anticipated for LAD applications represented barriers impervious to natural convection currents (ref. 6). This conclusion is yet to be verified with a cryogenic liquid.…”

Section: Liquid Acquisition Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Early evaluation of Compression Mass Gauging (CMG) technology indicated that the compression method in its current development stage with an oscillatory operating mode is limited to tank sizes on the order of 100 ft 3 . Further development of the compression gauge, with both oscillatory and single-pulse modes, is still deemed highly worthwhile, however, for the ISCPD Project; it was decided to replace the CMG with a radio-frequency mass gauging (RF) technique as a more suitable concept for a depot (ref.…”

Section: Low Gravity Mass Gaugingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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