Space Storable Rocket Technology Program SSRT

The Space Storable Rocket Technology Program SSRT was conducted for NASA-LeRC by TRW to establish a technology base for a new class of high performance and long-life bipropellant engines using space storable propellants. The results of the initial phase of this systematic multiyear program are described. Task 1 evaluated several characteristics for a number of fuels to determine the best space storable fuel for use with LO2. The results of this task indicated that L02-N2H4 is the best propellant combination and provides the maximum missionsystem capability-maximum payload into GEO of satellites. Task 2, Preliminary Design, developed two models-performance and thermal. The performance model indicated the performance goal of specific impulse 340 seconds Epsilon 204 could be achieved. The thermal model was developed and anchored to hot fire test data. Task 3, Exploratory Test, consisted of design, fabrication and testing of a 200 lbf thrust test engine operating at a chamber pressure of 200 psia using LO2-N2H4. A total of 76 hot fire tests were conducted demonstrating performance 340 seconds Epsilon 204 which is a 25 second specific impulse improvement over the existing highest performance flight apogee type engines.