Advpropulsion TD 2

Propulsion National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Advanced Propulsion
Technology and Development
Innovation To Explore
Many advanced propulsion technologies are management (CFM) for in-space propulsion
currently at medium technology readiness as well as testing new green propellants. For At-A-Glance
level, but opportunities for ground or in-space long-term exploration needs, Marshall provides Today’s in-space propulsion challenges
demonstration are limited. Crossing this tech- technical risk reduction by advancing a range are focused on chemical propulsion, while
nology development “valley of death” affordably of technologies to provide affordable, efficient tomorrow’s missions will require advancing
is key to bringing these technologies online propulsion that enable new mission concepts, the state-of-the-art of propulsion system
to serve future exploration needs. For current including nuclear thermal propulsion, electric performance. Marshall Space Flight Center
and near-term propulsion needs, the Center propulsion, satellite tethers, and solar sails. has unique experience in many of these
is advancing technologies for cryogenic fluid areas and the capabilities to rapidly proto-
type, test, and integrate new propulsion
system concepts.
Marshall evaluates a subscale

composite cryotank to advance
TRL prior to full-scale testing.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | Core Capabilities and Services

Enhancing Today Enabling Tomorrow
Marshall is designated as the lead Center for the Agency’s green Opening the solar system for human exploration will require maturation
propulsion efforts to develop propellants less toxic or environmentally of nonchemical space propulsion, such as nuclear thermal propulsion,
hazardous than existing propellants like hydrazine. Working with industry solar sails, and electric propulsion. NASA’s current design reference for
partners, other NASA centers, and interested government agencies, a human mission to Mars has options for nuclear thermal propulsion and
Marshall conducts research and characterization of a variety of candidate electric propulsion for reaching the destination. In the years leading up
propellants to reduce technical risk for ongoing advanced propulsion to a human planetary mission, these advanced propulsion concepts can
development efforts and offers testbed capabilities to assess a variety also improve robotic precursor missions. Marshall’s Near-Earth Asteroid
of propellants. Through the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM), a Scout (NEA Scout) mission, a secondary payload on SLS’s upcoming
project within the Marshall-managed Technology Demonstration Missions Exploration Mission 1 test flight, will use a solar sail to send a CubeSat
program for STMD, seeks to improve efficiency and reduce handling out to study an asteroid. In addition to the sail and deployment mech-
concerns associated with hydrazine. The mission also aims to optimize anism, the mission will also evaluate new attitude determination and
performance in new hardware, system and power solutions. GPIM is control systems (ADCS) needed for solar sail missions.
scheduled to launch in 2017.
In electric propulsion, Marshall’s iSat project is working with Glenn
Marshall’s research into CFM includes the storage, fluid distribution, liquid Research Center and the University of Alabama in Huntsville to evaluate
acquisition, and mass gauging of cryogenic propellants. These tasks an iodine-fueled Hall thruster and associated feed systems for use in
reduce the development risk and increase the technology readiness of small spacecraft. The technologies developed for this flight demonstration
advanced CFM subsystems to store and distribute cryogenic propellants will have applications both in operationally responsive space near Earth
required for long-term exploration missions. CFM utilizes the development and low-cost interplanetary exploration in the future.
of prototype CFM hardware, the creation and use of analytical models to
predict subsystem performance, and the execution of ground-based tests Marshall operates two facilities for nuclear thermal propulsion research
using liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and methane to demonstrate the and testing. The larger of these, the Nuclear Thermal Rocket Element
performance, applicability, and reliability of CFM subsystems. Environmental Simulator (NTREES), performs realistic non-nuclear
testing of various materials for nuclear thermal rocket fuel elements. The
Several testbeds support cryogenic propellant storage and transfer NTREES facility is designed to test fuel elements and materials in hot
research, including the large-scale 10-foot Multi-Purpose Hydrogen flowing hydrogen, reaching pressures up to 1,000 psi and temperatures
Testbed; the 6-foot Cryogenic Test Bed tanks for liquid oxygen damper of ~5,000 F to simulate space-based nuclear propulsion systems and
testing; the 4-foot vibroacoustic tank; and three small-scale stainless provide baseline data critical for risk reduction in future propulsion devel-
steel tanks, one 3-foot and two 18-inch. The tanks can be used for opment. The Compact Fuel Element Environmental Test (CFEET), which
vacuum testing and can run autonomously around the clock. conducts high-temperature, but not high-pressure, testing, is licensed to
test with depleted uranium. By combining our foundational and applied
Marshall is also developing new cryogenic propellant tanks using nuclear and materials research and expertise, Marshall provides a unique
composite materials, which could provide a substantial mass and cost capability to conduct the entire research process in-house, from design
savings, enabling future missions to reach new destinations. Working and development of fuel elements to testing.
with an industry partner, subscale test articles have undergone pressure
testing, and a full-scale test article is in development for continued In the area of advanced fusion research, Marshall is a partner with the
technology development and testing. University of Alabama at Huntsville’s fusion pulse power research project,
www.nasa.gov/marshallcapabilities
along with Boeing and the STMD. The research utilizes a donated DOD potential for raising satellites or deorbiting them at the end of operations
apparatus originally used for research into nuclear weapon effects. The by operating as an electric motor with or against Earth’s magnetic field.
full assembly weighs almost 50 tons and provides nearly 500,000 joules The Center continues to investigate advanced uses for satellites orbiting
of energy per pulse. beyond 70˚ inclination for Earth observation, weather, telecommunica-
tions, remote sensing, and planetary exploration.
Electric propulsion research includes unique capabilities in high-power
pulse-electric propulsion systems and nuclear fusion propulsion research. The Center has been involved in solar sail research from concept to
Supporting electric propulsion research, Marshall operates a low-thrust flight. In 2004, Marshall helped test the strength, stiffness, and behavior
vacuum chamber, which also can be used for chemical propulsion of two competing designs. These led to NanoSail-D and Sunjammer.
research. A recent test successfully simulated a 6-pound thruster using NanoSail-D, which Marshall managed in 2010, became NASA’s first
residual propellants from a spent upper stage. As a result, the industry solar sail to achieve orbit. The 100-square-foot polymer sail demon-
partner can consider adding such thrusters for satellite attitude control strated deployment of a compact solar sail boom technology. NEA
or as a means of de-orbiting spent stages. The chamber can test other Scout, launching in 2018 as a secondary payload on SLS Exploration
novel propulsion concepts such as hybrid solid/electric systems. Mission 1, will use a solar sail to reach a near-Earth asteroid for obser-
vations. Potential solar sail missions include polar-stationary Earth
Marshall has also managed four of NASA’s tethered satellite experiments, observations, heliophysics, NEO reconnaissance, interstellar precursors,
the Shuttle Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1 and -1R) and the Small orbital debris mitigation and small satellite propulsion.
Expendable Deployer Systems (SEDS I and SEDS II). Tethers have great
NanoSail-D served as
a proof-of-concept
for deployable solar
sail technologies.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | Core Capabilities and Services

From Nuclear Technology to In-Space Stage
The Nuclear Cryogenic Propulsion Stage project, led by Marshall for efficiently than conventional spacecraft, reducing crew exposure
the Advanced Exploration Systems program, includes participation to harmful space radiation and other effects of long-term space
by the Department of Energy. The program focuses on crew safety missions. It could also transport heavy cargo and science payloads.
and mission operations in deep space to enable new approaches for Further development and use of a first-generation nuclear system
rapidly developing prototype systems, demonstrating key capabilities could also provide the foundation for developing extremely advanced
and validating operational concepts for future vehicle development and propulsion technologies and systems in the future — ones that could
human missions beyond Earth orbit. take crews even farther into the solar system.
The team is engaged in a three-year project to demonstrate the Building on previous successful research and using the NTREES facility,
viability of nuclear propulsion system technologies. The design uses Marshall can safely and thoroughly test simulated nuclear fuel elements
a nuclear reactor to super-heat hydrogen, which expands through of various sizes, providing important test data to reduce technical risk in
a nozzle to generate thrust. A first-generation nuclear cryogenic the design of the Nuclear Cryogenic Propulsion Stage.
propulsion system could propel human explorers to Mars more
NTREES conducts risk-reduction tests on
fuel-simulated nuclear fuel elements.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Learn more about how you can access these capabilities
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center and more provided by Marshall Space Flight Center:
Huntsville, AL 35812 www.nasa.gov/marshallcapabilities
www.nasa.gov/marshall
Launching the Future of
www.nasa.gov Science and Exploration
NP-2016-06-58-MSFC
G-156057

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Propulsion National Aeronautics and

Marshall evaluates a subscale

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | Core Capabilities and Services

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | Core Capabilities and Services

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