Hydrogen-oxygen space shuttle ACPS thruster technology review

The generation of technology for injectors, cooled thrust chambers, valves, and ignition systems is discussed. The thrusters are designed to meet a unique and stringent set of requirements, including: long life for 100 mission reuses, high performance, light weight, ability to provide long duration firings as well as small impulse bits, ability to operate over wide ranges of propellant inlet conditions and to withstand reentry heating. The program has included evaluation of thrusters designed for ambient temperature and cold gaseous propellants at the vehicle interface.