Space Storable Rocket Technology Program SSRT

The Space Storable Rocket Technology Program (SSRT) was conducted for NASA-LeRC by TRW to establish a technology base for a new class of high performance and long-life bipropellant engines using space storable propellants. The results of the initial phase of this systematic multiyear program are described. Task 1 evaluated several characteristics for a number of fuels to determine the best space storable fuel for use with LO2. The results of this task indicated that L02-N2H4 is the best propellant combination and provides the maximum mission/system capability-maximum payload into GEO of satellites. Task 2, Preliminary Design, developed two models-performance and thermal. The performance model indicated the performance goal of specific impulse 340 seconds (Epsilon = 204) could be achieved. The thermal model was developed and anchored to hot fire test data. Task 3, Exploratory Test, consisted of design, fabrication and testing of a 200 lbf thrust test engine operating at a chamber pressure of 200 psia using LO2-N2H4. A total of 76 hot fire tests were conducted demonstrating performance 340 seconds (Epsilon = 204) which is a 25 second specific impulse improvement over the existing highest performance flight apogee type engines.