Analytical and experimental studies conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center for investigating integrated cryogenic propellant tank systems for a Reusable Launch Vehicle are described. The cryogenic tanks are investigated as an integrated tank system. An integrated tank system includes the tank wall, cryogenic insulation, Thermal Protection System (TPS) attachment sub-structure, and TPS. A...

An atmospheric differential drag based adaptive Lyapunov controller, originally proposed by the authors in previous work for spacecraft rendezvous, is here generalized allowing for the tracking of reference trajectories or dynamics. Differential drag is based on the ability to vary a satellite’s cross wind surface area, and it represents a propellant-free alternative to thrusters to control rel...

This paper addresses different methods for determining the amount of extra propellant (flight performance reserve or FPR) that is necessary to reach orbit with a high probability of success. One approach involves assuming that the various influential parameters are independent and that the result behaves as a Gaussian. Alternatively, probabilistic models may be used to determine the vehicle and...

Pneumatic-actuated valves are critical components in many applications, including cryogenic propellant loading for space operations. For these components, failures need to be predicted so that components can be repaired to ensure mission success, i.e., health monitoring and fault prognostics is required. In order to develop, test, mature, and deploy valve prognostics algorithms, we have develop...

cerns in rocket motor design because of the enormous cost of typical payloads and, in the case of the Space Shuttle and other manned vehicles, for the crew’s safety. In the spring of 1999, for example, a series of three consecutive launch failures collectively cost more than US$3.5 billion. The most notorious launch failure, of course, was the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger and its...

This paper presents an overview of research activities at the Center for Simulation of Advanced Rockets (CSAR) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. CSAR is one of five university-based research centers funded by the U. S. Department of Energy as part of the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI). The purpose of ASCI is to advance the state of the art in computational si...

This paper presents the results of a comparative investigation into effects ignition method on ballistic properties three types propellants: single-base propellant, double-base propellant and low vulnerability (LOVA) as determined via closed vessel tests (CVT). Conventional gunpowder plasma jet methods were used. The influence values characteristics obtained in CVT was analysed. It found that h...