What is it about?
We have designed and tested a small rocket engine for the attitude control of new lunar landers, using a new fuel blend we achieved high performance and precise control, which benefit future missions. This paper describes a part of the hot fire testing campaign, and shows results from vacuum testing of the thruster.
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Photo by NASA on Unsplash
Why is it important?
New rocket engines are needed for sustainably exploring the lunar surface with uncrewed lunar landing missions. This rocket small rocket engine is unique for using a new fuel blend of M20, which improves performance, and a 3D printed refractory metal nozzle, which reduces cost and time compared to traditional manufacturing methods. This precise, high-performing attitude control thruster will be used for multiple uncrewed lunar landers that are flying as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions. Reducing cost, time, and improving performance of CLPS landers allows NASA to sustainably perform lunar science and pioneer the way for the crewed Artemis missions which will land the next man and first woman on the moon.
Perspectives
I had the privilege of leading this incredibly talented team to develop and mature a new rocket engine. There were multiple challenges to overcome in using a new fuel blend, new manufacturing methods, and move quickly through development. We performed this together as a new team, and during the effort advanced the maturity of this thruster beyond any prior project. Since publication of this paper, the thruster has been qualified to meet requirements for its lunar missions and flight units have been shipped for integration into these vehicles. I hope that the reader is able to appreciate the care and effort that it takes to test and measure the critical parameters of a thruster like this.
Lars Osborne
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Qualification Testing of a 110-N Attitude Control Thruster, January 2024, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),
DOI: 10.2514/6.2024-2587.
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