Game Changing Development
Advanced Design and Manufacture of Cryogenic Propellant Tanks for Air Launched Liquid Rocket
Project Description
Generation Orbit (GO) is developing sub-orbital systems to enable rapid and inexpensive hypersonic flight regime test capabilities. To keep the cost of their launch system low, GO acts as systems integrator, utilizing as many off-the-shelf components as possible. But they do need to develop a few custom components, such as the liquid oxygen and the kerosene tanks. As a low risk approach, they started with design and manufacture of a metallic tank. But they think they may gain additional cost and/or weight efficiency by using composite tanks, especially tow-steered designs permitting efficient load path tailoring. Currently, GO does not have in-house composite structures expertise, so they asked for NASA's help. Through this partnership, NASA plans to use load path tailoring to evaluate whether tow-steered composite design can reduce liquid oxygen tank weight relative to the metallic design. Feasibility of a successful composite cylinder design should be demonstrated by manufacture of demonstration units using LaRC's Integrated Structural Assembly of Advanced Composites (ISAAC) and subjecting them to nondestructive evaluation and subscale testing.
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Anticipated Benefits
NASA funded: ACLO enables autonomous operation of cryogenic systems through development of physics-based software models and simulations that assist engineers and operators with designing cryogenic systems, optimizing propellant loading regimes, and supervising control and recovery functions. NASA Unfunded: The automation of functions and processes within the architecture and the integration of IVHM capabilities will ultimately provide repeatable, reliable loading operations and will reduce the heavy reliance on highly-skilled, highly-trained personnel to operate and maintain ground systems and to conduct launch operations. OGA: None. Commercial: The automation of functions and processes within the architecture and the integration of IVHM capabilities will ultimately provide repeatable, reliable loading operations and will reduce the heavy reliance on highly-skilled, highly-trained personnel to operate and maintain ground systems and to conduct launch operations. Nation: The technologies developed by the AS-ACLO team can help mature concepts for variable levels of autonomy and can enable us to rapidly adapt to and support various launch concepts in a multi-use environment, increase system availability, and reduce operations and maintenance costs associated with cryogenic systems.
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Virginia
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