SS/RCS surface tension propellant acquisition/expulsion tankage technology program

An evaluation of published propellant physical property data together with bubble point tests of fine-mesh screen in propellants, was conducted. The effort consisted of: (1) the collection and evaluation of pertinent physical property data for hydrazine (N2H4), monomethylhydrazine (MMH), and nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4); (2) testing to determine the effect of dissolved pressurant gas, temperature, purity, and system cleanliness or contamination on system bubble point, and (3) the compilation and publishing of both the literature and test results. The space shuttle reaction control system (SS/RCS) is a bipropellant system using N2O4 and MMH, while the auxiliary power system (SS/APU) employs monopropellant N2H4. Since both the RCS and the APU use a surface tension device for propellant acquisition, the propellant properties of interest are those which impact the design and operation of surface tension systems. Information on propellant density, viscosity, surface tension, and contact angle was collected, compiled, and evaluated.