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NASA's Compact High-Efficiency Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine for Mars Interplanetary MissionsNASA has successfully test fired a novel and compact liquid propulsion system known as a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine. This is a specially designed ring-shaped thrust chamber that leverages additive manufacturing techniques and novel alloys such as GRCop-42 and GRX-810. The extreme combustion event, known as a detonation, reduces the combustion chamber length requirements down to a few inches while equivalent constant pressure rocket thrust chambers are on the order of feet. This is primarily due to rapid completion of combustion by the high-pressure detonation, an order of magnitude faster than deflagration combustion. In addition, the ring shape allows for rapid expansion of the combustion products. Depending on the thrust class and design supersonic area ratio, the full RDRE can be anywhere from 10% to 50% shorter than a traditional liquid rocket assuming the same exit diameter but is dependent on a number of design assumptions. This may enable substantial mass savings, cost savings, and broader design trade space for various mission architectures. Finally, the engine system has potential for higher Isp at identical average chamber pressure, which is currently being assessed by NASA. Experimental data obtained from testing in 2022 identified the feasibility of the novel propulsion system while multiple test series scheduled throughout 2023 and 2024 target closing the remaining critical technical gaps preventing widespread use of the technology amongst industry.
Document ID
20240000933
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Thomas Teasley
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, United States)
Dillon Petty
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, United States)
Shawn Skinner
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, United States)
Joseph Hernandez-McCloskey
(NSTR Fellow)
Date Acquired
January 22, 2024
Meeting Information
Meeting: 46th Annual AAS Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference
Location: Breckenridge, CO
Country: US
Start Date: February 1, 2024
End Date: February 7, 2024
Sponsors: Marshall Space Flight Center, American Astronautical Society
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 255421.04.99.23.01.62
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Portions of document may include copyright protected material.
Technical Review
NASA Peer Committee
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