Integrated Ground Operations Demonstration Units (IGODU)

The overall goal of the AES Integrated Ground Operations Demonstration Units (IGODU) project is to demonstrate cost efficient cryogenic operations on a relevant scale that can be projected onto future Spaceport architectures and extraterrestrial surface operations. The results of this project are being incorporated and built on in the AES Autonomous Propellant Loading project.

The overall goal of the project is to demonstrate cost efficient cryogenic operations on a relevant scale that can be projected onto future Spaceport architectures and extraterrestrial surface operations. This goal will be demonstrated by completing the primary test objectives below: GODU Integrated Refrigeration and Storage (IRAS) Demonstrate zero loss storage and transfer of LH2 at a large scale. Demonstrate hydrogen densification in storage tank and loading of flight tank Demonstrate in situ hydrogen liquefaction using helium refrigeration GODU Autonomous Control of Cryogenic Propellant Load Demonstrate autonomous control of a sub-scale vehicle loading operation Demonstrate recognition of common system faults and anomalies and recover without human intervention Evaluate tools and techniques in real world application to advance health management and autonomous control technologies for future applications Demonstrate scalability and extensibility by replicating autonomous control of the 6,000 gallon LOX simulator system to the 33,000 gallon LH2 system Develop and demonstrate helium conservation instrumentation and processes Provide potential hardware-in-the-loop demonstration capability for AES Automated Mission Operations project or other analog test environment for remote operations in 2014