An Investigation into the Advantages of In-Space Propellant Re-supply

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dc.contributor.advisorTolson, Robert Hen_US
dc.contributor.authorScher, Michael Daviden_US
dc.contributor.departmentAerospace Engineeringen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2006-06-14T05:43:04Z
dc.date.available2006-06-14T05:43:04Z
dc.date.issued2006-04-19en_US
dc.description.abstractIn-space propellant re-supply has been proposed to extend space vehicle lifetimes, but only qualitative arguments supporting development have been made; this study focuses on quantitative support. Two basic concepts for propellant re-supply are propellant transfer and tank replacement. A quantitative assessment and comparison to no re-supply alternatives is necessary to choose the most cost-effective architecture. The analysis is primarily accomplished through the use of a new tool that facilitates propulsion system sizing and broad trade studies. The program was co-created by the author under a grant from NASA Langley Research Center and has been used at NASA Langley for lunar architecture studies to support the Vision for Space Exploration. For less than 100 missions, the preferred scenario is without re-supply, using direct Earth reentry. For more than 100 missions, tank replacement requires 38% fewer missions than propellant transfer to become more cost effective than no re-supply.en_US
dc.format.extent821968 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3428
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledEngineering, Aerospaceen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledPropellant Transferen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledTank Replacementen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledLunar Architectureen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledLunar Missionsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledVision for Space Explorationen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledPropellant Resupplyen_US
dc.titleAn Investigation into the Advantages of In-Space Propellant Re-supplyen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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