Spacecraft Propulsion Tech Committee Task List

The Spacecraft Propulsion Technical Committee is based around detailing and working on the design of the Reference Mission's spacecraft propulsion systems. It was also established to act as a technical advisory group for other teams working on the Artemis Project.

In working on a project such as this, and in doing it in an environment such as the one you are presently within, we need to remember that we are all working together on this project.  We all want to get there quickly, safely, and efficiently.  Everybody should know that each of these tasks listed below are there to help us reach our goals.  If you feel that working as a group on your particular task will help the creative juices start flowing, then by all means let us know who and how many.  Don't worry if you only want to work on one part of a subtopic; there is no need to tackle a mammoth task all at once. Keep in mind that even some raw figures and preliminary calculations are very useful for those doing analyses who may derive the rest of the data from the sundry subtopics. Give whatever data you have; don't hold on to it until you're all done with the study.

When you choose a topic, or subtopic, from the task list, please remember to do a couple of things before you get started, and while you are working on the task.  Take some time to think about the problem, and how you might try to solve it.  I don't expect you to have it all thought through by the end of the day, but when you think you have an idea, please take a moment to outline it.  Each outline will be saved in an archive.  As you begin to work on the task, I would also like to have each person send in progress reports every two months.  It doesn't have to be anything long and detailed; just something to let us know how things are going.  So, in the future, if you decide to change tasks, or leave all together, we will have an idea of how you were going to solve the problem; and what you might have  accomplished along the way.

So far, nearly everything needs a volunteer to take a crack at the research, calculations, brainstorming, or writing.  The slightest amount of help does wonders to a group project, and any help at all gets us one step closer to the Moon.

The task list will be divided up into two major areas: First is an area with tasks that are in need of immediate attention; Secondly, a section, or sections, that list more long-term tasks to be completed.  These tasks will usually consist of follow-on to the immediates in the first section.  In some cases, the immediates are nothing more than specific sub-sections to the more general tasks.  If you, or your group wish to take on different sub-sections, please let us know so we can mark it.

Please remember that we are all working on this together. If you have any questions about your topic, or need assistance on data or calculations, please feel free to ask somebody else in the group.
 

• Main Propulsion
• Maneuvering Systems
• Fuel Requirements, Support, and Storage
• Propulsion Support Systems
• Provide Propulsion Assistance
• Volunteer

Detail Reference Mission Main Propulsion

The main propulsion system of the Reference Mission is the focus of the Propulsion Tech Committee. Issues such as the supply, cost, performance, mass of engine and fuels, types of engines used and for what purpose, and requirements of critical components all need to be detailed.

Under overall requirements, we need to characterize each system dependent upon the mission proposed.  We also need to think about our options under what will work efficiently coupled with what will help keep our costs from sky-rocketing.

Please keep in mind that all the URLs listed as "Notes:" next to each section are preliminary studies of the design.  Certain designs and vehicle requirements are there as references, e.g. the lunar transfer vehicle (LTV) URLs listed below.  If you have any improvements that are complete changes, please make them known by the method described above.

Note: George P. Sutton's "Rocket Propulsion Elements" is a good introduction to the science and engineering behind rocket-powered spaceflight.  Sections on chemical, solid, and ion engines are a good start to the subject.
 

• 1. Lunar Transfer Vehicle
• Note: Notes On LTV Design

          LTV Vehicle Requirements
• 1.1. Overall Requirements
• 1.2. Engines (Engine Spec. List)
• 1.21. Main engines (work with ship design team to find an engine that best fits the mission)
• 1.22. Attitude thrusters
• 1.3. Turbopumps
• 2. Descent Stage
• Note: Please look here for layout notes on the Descent Stage: Layout Notes
• 1.1. Overall Requirements
• 1.2. Engines (Engine Spec. List)
• 1.3. Turbopumps
• 3. Ascent Stage (John Kruep kruep@ecentral.com)
• Note: A preliminary proposal has been produced by John Kruep:  Ascent Stage
• 1.1. Overall Requirements
• 1.2. Engines (Engine Spec. List)
• 1.3. Turbopumps
• 4. Create and Maintain Engine Specification List

Charles Patrick Collier ccollier@garfield.ncat.edu

Detail Reference Mission Maneuvering Systems

Charles Collier cpcollie@asi.org
Decisions to be made involve:  
• What type of rockets to use (a few high thrust engines, or, maybe, some redundant clusters);
• Gyros or thrusters;
• What their burn time requirements are;
• How powerful they need to be;
• Integration with the rest of the spacecraft (connected to type of engine);
• Precision requirements (what does the craft need to be capable of doing); and
• other related issues.

Immediate issues that need to be resolved:

• The characterisitics of each section of the reference mission need to be outlined.

In General: 

• Lunar Transfer Vehicle
• Descent Stage/Habitat Module
• Ascent Stage

Detail Reference Mission Fuel Requirements, Support, and Storage

Note: Please check these links for introductory fuel specs for the Ascent and Descent stages of the Reference Mission.

• 1. Fuel Types and Mixtures
• 1.1. Earth Orbit to Lunar Orbit
• 1.2. Descent and Landing
• 1.3. Ascent and Rendezvous
• 1.4. Lunar Orbit to Earth Orbit
• 2. Fuel Quantities Required
• 3. Tank Design and Materials (Check here for some introductory information to see how far we have moved on this subject:   Composite Tank Design )
• 4. Boiloff Prevention Measures
• 5. Fuel Consumption Rate for Engine Types
• 6. Plumbing
• 7. Valves
• 8. Fuel Systems Monitoring (continuous monitoring of system integrity and efficiency)
• 9. Elimination and Reusal of Empties (Possible to utilize empties in orbit as storage facilities, and for follow-on missions.  The more equipment we can utilize for more than one mission, the lower the cost, e.g. re-use of material for housing, green-houses, etc.)
• 10. Orbital Integration

Detail Reference Mission Propulsion Support Systems

• 1. Telemetry
• 2. Safety Systems and Redundancy
• 3. Monitoring
• 3.1. Health monitoring of systems (need for continuous monitoring of all systems, with an option for downloading information to database for analysis.)
• 3.2. Fiber-optics nervous system option would allow the complete system to be monitored. Cost would be minimal, and repair of stressed components could be fixed long before failure became imminent.
• 4. Control Systems
• 5. Ignition
• 6. Gimbals
• 7. Fuel Flow Systems

Provide Propulsion-Related Assistence

• 1. Work with the SSTO Project Team
• 1.1. Determine realistic propulsion baseline
• 1.2. Assist with calculations, rocket science
• 2. Coordinate with active Project Teams
• 2.1. Coordinate with the Sample Return Project Team
• 3. Coordinate with other active Technical Committees
• 3.1. Simulations Tech Committee
• 3.2. Mission Design Tech Committee
• 3.3. Logistics Tech Committee
• 4. Work with Artemis-List

Answer queries, verify critical postings, perform calculations and tutorials on request
• 5. Conduct propulsion-related trade studies
• 5.1. Baseline Lunar Sample Return Mission Design

Volunteer