Mastering Cryogenic Propellants

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) began experimentation with cryogenic propellants in the early 1950s to understand the potential of these high-performance propellants for use in liquid propellant rocket engines. Supporting these tests required learning how to both design cryogenic systems and develop procedures to safely and reliably work with cryogenic fuels and oxidizers. This early work led to the development of a skill set that has been core to the center ever since. When NASA was formed and the exploration missions were defined, it became clear that the ability to use cryogenic propellants in the thermal and microgravity environment of space was critical to mission success, and the agency was tasked with enabling this capability. To support development of the Centaur upper stage and the Saturn S-IVB stage, GRC researchers and engineers initiated extensive technology development for the in-space application of cryogenic fluid management (CFM). These initial efforts addressed basic requirements of propellant slosh, settling, and short-term storage/pressure control. Over the ensuing years, the NASA GRC has advanced CFM technologies to enable more reliable and capable upper stages. Today, these CFM technologies are on the brink of enabling long-duration in-space cryogenic propulsion stages and cryogenic propellant depots. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000297. (C) 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.