Progress on the Reduced Gravity Cryogenic Transfer (RGCT) ProjectReduced gravity transfer of cryogenic propellants is crucial to being able to perform planned extended-duration space exploration missions. However, the transfer of cryogenic propellants under reduced gravity conditions has never been demonstrated in a mass-efficient fashion. Efficient cryogenic fluid transfer methods will reduce the transfer time or amount of propellant consumed for chilldown of transfer lines and tanks and ensure successful engine restart or fill of a customer receiver tank. The purpose of the Reduced Gravity Cryogenic Transfer (RGCT) project is to enhance line chilldown, tank chilldown, and tank fill/transfer in a reduced gravity environment through (1) ground and reduced gravity cryogenic testing and (2) numerical model development and validation, which includes empirical, lumped capacitance, and computational fluid dynamics modeling. Technologies developed, data gathered, and models developed and validated under RGCT have played a critical role in enabling longer duration in-space missions. This presentation will provide a description of the ongoing cryogenic propellant transfer ground and reduced gravity testing, numerical modeling, and technology development to-date.
Document ID
20230009068
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Jason Hartwig (Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Mariano Mercado (Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Erin Tesny (Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Eric Carlberg (Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Jesse Defiebre (Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Bryan Fraser (Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
David Koci (Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Mike Doherty (Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Alok Majumdar (Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, United States)
Andre Leclair (Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, United States)
Michael Baldwin (Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, United States)
Sam Darr (The Aerospace Corporation El Segundo, California, United States)
Jacob Chung (University of Florida Gainesville, Florida, United States)