NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities Restoring NASA's Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space (2012) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix D: TA01 Launch Propulsion Systems
Appendix D: TA01 Launch Propulsion Systems
Pages 105-116
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From page 105... ...
The Earth to orbit launch industry includes mature technologies, proven designs, and well-established companies, as well as innovative technologies and designs and some relatively new companies. For launch propulsion, in particular, the fundamental technologies are based on chemical propulsion and are decades old.
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From page 106... ...
In fact, with the end of the Space Shuttle Program and uncertainty in the future direction in human spaceflight, launch costs for NASA science missions are actually increasing. This is because without the space shuttle or a human spaceflight program, the propulsion industrial base is at significant overcapacity.
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From page 107... ...
The various air breathing technologies offer some prospects for reducing the cost of launch, but the correlation with launch propulsion technologies is diluted by the fact that these breakthrough technologies are somewhat specula tive. The launch industry has searched for a breakthrough to lower launch costs for decades and, unfortunately, it has yet to materialize.
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From page 108... ...
Air Collection and Enrichment System 1 3 1 0 3 -3 -1 64 L 1.3.8. Fundamental Air Breathing Propulsion Technologies 1 3 3 1 3 -1 -3 100 M 1.4.1.
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From page 109... ...
Technology 1.3.2, Rocket Based Combined Cycle Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) propulsion systems combine the high specific impulse of air breath ing ramjet and scramjet engines with the high thrust-to-weight ratio of a chemical rocket.
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From page 110... ...
Reduced Cost: enable lower cost, high Develop propulsion specific impulse upper technologies that have stage engines suitable for the potential to NASA, DOD, and dramatically reduce the commercial needs, total cost and to increase applicable to both Earth the reliability and safety to-orbit and in-space of access to space. Priority TA01 Technologies, Listed by Priority applications.
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From page 111... ...
The panel believes it will take decades of research and development and a large and sustained financial investment to make this technology feasible. Technology 1.3.1, Turbine Based Combined Cycle Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC)
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From page 112... ...
are so widely used that they are particularly important to the overall launch industry and future NASA programs and missions. RP/LOX Based Propulsion RP/LOX based propulsion systems are a good choice for main propulsion stages of expendable launch vehicles.
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From page 113... ...
DEVELOPMENT AND SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR THE TECHNOLOGIES COVERED BY THE ROADMAP The development timeline for launch propulsion technologies will be critically dependent on the overall strat egy and architecture chosen for exploration, and the funding available. Until these factors are known, it makes little sense to define a timeline.
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From page 114... ...
(This point was made throughout the workshop by multiple presenters.) He suggested that in the near term, the most promising launch propulsion technology is a hydrocarbon-based liquid engine.
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From page 115... ...
With a higher flight rate, reusable launch systems become more advantageous, especially if maximum payload mass per launch is contained. He identified two other high priorities: thermal protection systems for reus able launch vehicles and low-cost engines with adequate performance.
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From page 116... ...
She believes that the highest priority propulsion technology would be a hydrocarbon boost engine with a thrust on the order of 1.5 million pounds or greater. Such an engine could support a NASA super heavy lift vehicle as well as smaller commercial launch systems.
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