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Passive ZBO storage of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen applied to space science mission concepts.

Author(s) : PLACHTA D. W., CHRISTIE R. J., JURNS J. M., et al.

Summary

Liquid hydrogen and oxygen cryogenic propulsion and storage were recently considered for application to Titan Explorer and CometNuclear Sample Return space science mission investigations. These missions would require up to 11 years of cryogenic storage. The authors modelled and designed cryogenic propellant storage concepts for these missions. By isolating the propellant tank's view to deep space, they were able to achieve zero boil-off for both liquid hydrogen and oxygen propellant storage without cryocoolers. Several shades were incorporated to protect the tanks from the sun and spacecraft bus, and to protect the hydrogen tank from the warmer oxygen tank. This had a dramatic effect on the surface temperatures of the propellant tank insulation. These passive storage concepts for deep space missions substantially improved this application of cryogenic propulsion. It is projected that for missions requiring larger propellant tank sizes, the results would be even more dramatic. [Reprinted with permission from Elsevier. Copyright, 2005].

Details

  • Original title: Passive ZBO storage of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen applied to space science mission concepts.
  • Record ID : 2006-2796
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 2006/02
  • Source: Source: Cryogenics/Proc. Space Cryog. Workshop, Colorado Springs
    vol. 46; n. 2-3; 89-97; fig.; tabl.; 11 ref.

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