Evaluation of Monopropellants for Reusable Launch Vehicles

Abstract

Previously, the Air Force has been investigating high performance salt-based, liquid monopropellants for low thrust spacecraft applications. The focus of this effort has been on finding a reduced toxicity monopropellant with a predicted density performance impulse greater than 50% over hydrazne. During this same period of time, NASA has been investigating reusable launch vehicle (KLV) concepts and has considered using monopropellants in this application. Anticipating a possible RLV payoff, NASA and the Air Force are working on a trade study to gauge the potential applicability of the salt-based monopropellants in booster applications. This study will include a performance comparison of salt-based monopropellants; a list of minimum safety, hazard, and physical property requirements based on operational and logistical support environments for an RLV.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 05, 2001
Accession Number
ADA409864

Entities

People

  • Adam J. Brand
  • Milton B. Mckay
  • Paul F. Jones
  • Stephen L. Rodgers
  • Tom W. Hawkins

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Data Rights
  • Department Of Defense
  • Export Controls
  • Information Operations
  • Launch Vehicles
  • Military Research
  • Monopropellants
  • Physical Properties
  • Reusable Launch Vehicles
  • Sensitivity
  • Standards
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

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Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster