Survey of Constellation-Era LOX/Methane Development Activities and Future Development Needs

• Published in: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI). Misc. Resources
• Main Authors: Marshall, William M, Stiegemeier, Benjamin, Greene, Sandra Elam, Hurlbert, Eric A
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Hampton NASA/Langley Research Center 04.04.2017
• Subjects: Ascent; Engines; Liquid oxygen; Low earth orbits; Mars; Mars landers; Mars missions; Methane; Moon; New technology; Propellants; Propulsion systems; Reaction control; Throttles; Throttling

NASA formed the Constellation Program in 2005 to achieve the objectives of maintaining American presence in low-Earth orbit, returning to the moon for purposes of establishing an outpost, and laying the foundation to explore Mars and beyond in the first half of the 21st century. The Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP) was formulated to address the technology needs to address Constellation architecture decisions. The Propellants and Cryogenic Advanced Development (PCAD) project was tasked with risk mitigation of specific propulsion related technologies to support ETDP. Propulsion systems were identified as critical technologies owing to the high gear-ratio of lunar Mars landers Cryogenic propellants offer performance advantage over storables (NTOMMH) Mass savings translate to greater payload capacity In-situ production of propellant an attractive feature; methane and oxygen identified as possible Martian in-situ propellants New technologies were required to meet more difficult missions High performance LOX/LH2 deep throttle descent engines High performance LOX/LCH4 ascent main and reaction control system (RCS) engines The PCAD project sought to provide those technologies through Reliable ignition pulse RCS Fast start High efficiency engines Stable deep throttling.