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Lunar Surface Access Module Pump-Fed Engine Turbopump TechnologyThe need for a high specific impulse LOX/LH2 pump-fed lunar lander engine has been established by NASA for the new Exploration architecture. Preliminary studies indicate that a 4 engine cluster in the thrust range of 9,000-lbf each is a likely configuration for the main propulsion of the manned lunar lander vehicle. The main Lunar Surface Access Module engines will likely be responsible for mid-course correction burns, lunar orbit insertion burns, a deorbit burn, and the powered descent to the lunar surface. This multi-task engine philosophy imposes a wide throttling requirement on the engines in the range of 10:1. Marshall Space Flight Center has initiated an internal effort to mature the technologies needed for full scale development of such a LOX/LH2 pump-fed engine. In particular, a fuel turbopump is being designed and fabricated at MSFC to address the issues that a small high speed turbopump of this class will face. These issues include adequate throttling performance of the pump and turbine over a very wide operating range. The small scale of the hardware presents issues including performance scaling, and manufacturing issues like that will challenge the traditional methods we have used to fabricate and assemble larger scale turbopumps. The small high speed turbopump being developed at MSFC will operate at speeds greater than 100,000-rpm. These speeds create issues that include structural dynamics and high cycle fatigue as well as rotordynamic stability. The fuel turbopump development at MSFC will address these issues, and plans are in work for component level testing as well as operation in a test bed engine environment. The fuel turbopump design is nearing completion and described herein.
Document ID
20070031896
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Thornton, Randall J.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
May 14, 2007
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: 3rd JANNAF Liquid Propulsion Meeting
Location: Denver, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: May 14, 2007
End Date: May 17, 2007
Sponsors: Department of the Army, NASA Headquarters, Department of the Navy, Department of the Air Force
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 698671.01.08.06.14
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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