Very low earth orbit propellant collection feasibility assessment

Propellant collection;Electric propulsion;Air-breathing propulsion

Singh, Lake Austin ; Walker, Mitchell Aerospace Engineering Seitzman, Jerry Wilhite, Alan Gunter, Brian Russell, Ryan ; Walker, Mitchell

University:Georgia Institute of Technology

Department:Aerospace Engineering

关键词: Propellant collection;    Electric propulsion;    Air-breathing propulsion;   

Others  :  https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/1853/53039/1/SINGH-DISSERTATION-2014.pdf

美国|英语

来源: SMARTech Repository

【 摘 要 】

This work focuses on the concept of sustainable propellant collection. The concept consists of gathering ambient gas while on-orbit and using it as propellant. Propellant collection could potentially enable operation in very-low Earth orbits without compromising spacecraft lifetime. This work conducts a detailed analysis of propellant collection from a physics perspective in order to test the assertions of previous researchers that propellant collection can dramatically reduce the cost of propellant on-orbit. Major design factors for propellant collection are identified from the fundamental propellant collection equations, which are derived in this work from first principles. A sensitivity analysis on the parameters in these equations determines the relative importance of each parameter to the overall performance of a propellant-collecting vehicle. The propellant collection equations enable the study of where propellant collection is technically feasible as a function of orbit and vehicle performance parameters. Two case studies conducted for a very-low Earth orbit science mission and a propellant depot-type mission serve to demonstrate the application of the propellant collection equations derived in this work. The results of this work show where propellant collection is technically feasible for a wide range of orbit and vehicle performance parameters. Propellant collection can support very-low Earth operation with presently available technology, and a number of research developments can further extend propellant-collecting concepts' ability to operate at low altitudes. However, propellant collection is not presently suitable for propellant depot applications due to limitations in power.