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Article
Feasibility of Developing a Refrigerant-Based Propulsion System for Small Spacecraft
Small Satellite Conference Proceedings
  • Carl Seubert
  • S. Miller
  • J. Siebert
  • A. Stewart
  • Henry J. Pernicka, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • R. Molina, Jr.
  • G. Lightsey
Abstract

This paper documents the feasibility of developing a low pressure, low-budget, two-phase refrigerant propulsion system for small spacecraft. The spacecraft design teams at the University of Missouri-Rolla, University of Texas at Austin, and Washington University in St Louis have collaboratively researched and assessed the feasibility of using a refrigerant propellant to provide a safe and practical type of propulsion system for the small spacecraft community. As an alternative to a typical inert cold-gas system, the teams investigated two-phase refrigerant-based systems motivated by the excellent propellant storage advantages and the ease of use and inherent safety. A primary benefit is its ability to be stored as a saturated liquid with inherently lower pressures as the constant volume system maintains self-equilibrium at saturation pressure. The associated laboratory safety of using a refrigerant propellant and ease of constructing cold-gas hardware make the propulsion system an ideal choice for low-budget satellite developers. The safety and performance analysis conducted on a general system indicates that with appropriate precautions and conservative design, test and analysis a refrigerant-based propulsion system can be safely implemented on small spacecraft and is a viable propulsion option. This feasibility study has been used as a guide to design and develop propulsion systems for each of the universities.

Meeting Name
Small Satellite Conference
Department(s)
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2007 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
1-1-2007
Publication Date
01 Jan 2007
Citation Information
Carl Seubert, S. Miller, J. Siebert, A. Stewart, et al.. "Feasibility of Developing a Refrigerant-Based Propulsion System for Small Spacecraft" Small Satellite Conference Proceedings (2007)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/henry-pernicka/16/