A Liquid Propulsion Panorama

Paper number

IAC-08.C4.6.1

Author

Mr. Philippe Caisso, Snecma, France

Coauthor

Mr. Randy C. Parsley, Pratt & Whitney, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Todd Neill, Aerojet-General Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Scott Forde, Aerojet-General Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Christophe Bonhomme, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mr. Mamoru Takahashi, IHI Aerospace Co, Ltd., Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Masahiro Atsumi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Dominique Valentian, France

Coauthor

Mr. Alain Souchier, Snecma, France

Coauthor

Mr. Christophe Rothmund, Snecma, France

Coauthor

Mr. Patrick Alliot, Snecma, France

Coauthor

Mr. Walter Zinner, EADS Astrium GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Robert Starke, Aerojet-General Corporation, France

Year

2008

Abstract

Liquid-propellant rocket engines are widely used all over the world, thanks to their high performances, in particular high thrust-to-weight ratio. The present paper has the objective to present, as a contribution of the IAF Advanced Propulsion Prospective Group, a general panorama of the Liquid Propulsion.
After a brief history of the main steps leading to its development in the different parts of the world, the current status of the Liquid Propulsion will be presented.
The launcher liquid propulsion is dominated by cryogenic and LOX hydrocarbons engines. Some storable engines are still in use, either for upper stages or core stages. Cleaner propellant combinations will be tested at small scale to identify their potential.
Based on Plans for Next and Future Launchers, available and future technologies to be developed for different types of missions (earth-to-orbit, from LEO to GEO or Moon, interplanetary) will be described, together with development roadmaps, covering present developments, near term and long term trends.
Liquid propulsion is often seen as a mature technology with few ways of improvement, but commercial market will dictate an increase in satellite mass with a reduction of cost per kilogram, and a stronger than ever demand for reliability, that will probably lead to a family of new engines, with more design margins, simpler to use and to produce.
Additionally changes in design an manufacturing methods which have transformed the automotive and aircraft industries in the late 90’s and early 2000’s have equally transformed the field of space propulsion, bringing increased focus on productivity, reproducibility, environmental concern.
Space exploration will also require new engines for a variety of thrust and life requirements, as new man rated engines for Moon ascent and descent for the NASA Moon programme ; the ESA exploration programme will also call for the development of new medium thrust engines for automatic planetary landing and ascent (sample return).
Commonalities for near term and long-term strategies and induced evolutions will be pointed out, together with possible breakthroughs.

Abstract document

IAC-08.C4.6.1.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.C4.6.1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.