请输入您要查询的百科知识:

 

词条 Ascent propulsion system
释义

  1. Origins

  2. Development

  3. RS-18 Engine

  4. References

  5. External links

{{Infobox rocket engine
|country_of_origin = United States
|image=Apollo Lunar Module Ascent Engine.jpg
|image_size=250px
|caption=Apollo LM ascent engine
|name=Ascent propulsion system (APS)
|date = 1964–72
|manufacturer = Bell Aircraft / Rocketdyne
|purpose = Lunar Ascent Stage/Spacecraft propulsion
|status=Retired
|cycle=Pressure-fed
|combustion_chamber=1
|thrust(Vac)= {{convert|3500|lbf|kN}}
|specific_impulse_vacuum={{convert|311|isp}}
|chamber_pressure=
|thrust_to_weight=19.44
|diameter= {{convert|34|in|cm}}
|length= {{convert|47|in|cm}}
|dry_weight= {{convert|180|lb|kg}}
|predecessor=Bell 8247
|successor=RS-18
|type = liquid
|fuel = Aerozine 50
|oxidizer = {{chem|N|2|O|4}}
|used_in = Lunar module as ascent engine
}}

The ascent propulsion system (APS) or lunar module ascent engine (LMAE) is a fixed-thrust hypergolic rocket engine developed by Bell Aerosystems for use in the Apollo lunar module ascent stage. It used Aerozine 50 fuel, and {{chem|N|2|O|4}} oxidizer. Rocketdyne provided the injector system, at the request of NASA, when Bell could not solve combustion instability problems.[1]

Origins

The LMAE traces its origin to the earlier Bell Aerosystems engines (8096, 8247) used in the RM-81 Agena, the American rocket upper stage and satellite support bus developed by Lockheed initially for the canceled WS-117L reconnaissance satellite program.[1]

The Agena served as an upper stage for several defense, intelligence, and exploration programs: SAMOS-E, SAMOS-F (ELINT Ferret) and MIDAS (Missile Defense Alarm System) military early-warning satellites, Corona photo intelligence program, and the Ranger and Lunar Orbiter lunar probes.

The Lockheed Agena target vehicle using the Bell 8247 engine was qualified for 15 restarts for NASA's Project Gemini.[2]

A total of 365 Agena rockets were launched by NASA and the US Air Force between February 28, 1959 and the last Agena D launched on 12 February 1987, configured as the upper stage of a Titan 34B.[3][4]

Development

During the spring of 1963, Grumman hired Bell to develop the lunar module ascent engine, on the assumption that Bell's experience in development of the Air Force Agena engine would be transferable to the lunar module requirements. Grumman placed heavy emphasis upon high reliability through simplicity of design, and the ascent engine emerged as the least complicated of the three main engines in the Apollo space vehicle, including the LM descent and CSM service propulsion system engines.

Embodying a pressure-fed fuel system using hypergolic (self-igniting) propellants, the ascent engine was fixed-thrust and nongimbaled, capable of lifting the ascent stage off the Moon or aborting a landing if necessary.[5]

The engine developed about {{convert|3500|lbf|kN}} of thrust, which produced a velocity of 2,000 meters per second from lunar launch,{{Citation needed|date=February 2013}} to LOR, and CM docking.[6] It weighed 180 pounds (81.6 kg), with a length of 47 inches (119.4 cm) and diameter of 34 inches (86.4 cm).[7]

According to the Science Channel's documentary Moon Machines, the fuel and oxidizer were so corrosive that the engines had to be rebuilt after each firing. This meant that each ascent from the Moon was performed with an engine that had not been test-fired prior to flight.[8]

RS-18 Engine

{{ Main | RS-18 }}

Rocketdyne brought the lunar module ascent engine out of its 36-year retirement, now designated as RS-18, and reconfigured this non-throttleable hypergolic engine to use LOX/methane for NASA Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) engine testing in 2008.[9]

References

1. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA440094&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf |title=Technology and the Air Force A Retrospective Assessment |publisher=Air Force History and Museums Program |year=1997 |author1=Jacob Neufeld |author2=George M. Watson, Jr. |author3=David Chenoweth |last-author-amp=yes }}
2. ^{{cite web|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720013175 |title=Shuttle/Agena study. Volume 1: Executive summary| publisher=NASA|date=1972-02-25|author1=Lockheed Missiles |author2=Space Company |lastauthoramp=yes }}
3. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.nro.gov/foia/declass/WS117L_Records/276.PDF|title=HISTORY - AGENA AS OF 31 DEC67, VOLUME I|publisher=SPACE AND MISSILE SYSTEMS ORGANIZATION AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND|date=June 1966}}
4. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/rm-81.html |title=Lockheed RM-81 Agena |publisher=Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles |year=2010 |author=Andreas Parsch |accessdate= June 6, 2012 }}
5. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4205/ch6-5.html |title=Engines, Large and Small; Chariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft |author1=Courtney G. Brooks |author2=James M. Grimwood |author3=Loyd S. Swenson |date=September 20, 2007 |accessdate=June 7, 2012 }}
6. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/lmalsion.htm |publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica |title=LM Ascent Propulsion |accessdate=June 7, 2012 }}
7. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.alternatewars.com/BBOW/Space/Reference_Spacecraft_Engines.htm |title=LM Ascent Engine Specifications}}
8. ^{{cite episode| title =The Lunar Module| url =http://store.discovery.com/moon-machines-dvd/detail.php?p=108637&v=science-channel_dvds&pagemax=all| series =Moon Machines| network =Science| airdate =June 2008}}
9. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=26327 |title=New RS-18 builds upon LM Ascent Engine heritage |publisher=SpaceRef.com |date=September 3, 2008 }}
{{Include-NASA}}

External links

  • [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19730011150_1973011150.pdf NASA Technical Note: October 24, 1972]
  • [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090016298_2009014419.pdf Apollo Lunar Module Propulsion Systems Overview, NASA]
{{Apollo program hardware}}{{Orbital spacecraft rocket engines}}

4 : Rocket engines using hypergolic propellant|Apollo program hardware|Spacecraft propulsion|Rocket engines using the pressure-fed cycle

随便看

 

开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识,基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识,是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。

 

Copyright © 2023 OENC.NET All Rights Reserved
京ICP备2021023879号 更新时间:2024/11/11 7:33:50