Electric orbit transfer vehicle cryogenic propellant system

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An electric orbit transfer vehicle (EOTV) is intended to transfer payloads from low Earth orbit (LEO) to higher orbits using low-thrust solar-electric propulsion and hydrogen propellant. Because of its high specific impulse and synergistic sharing of power supply, attitude control and communication systems with the payload, the highly efficient EOTV transfer stage permits use of a smaller, less costly launch vehicle than if orbit transfer were accomplished using chemical propulsion. Study of the propellant storage and supply system for an EOTV intended to fly a 168 day spiral trajectory from LEO to geosynchronous orbit (GEO) reveals that the low propellant flow rate needed by the thrusters can be supplied by the boil-off from the storage tank, eliminating the need for any overboard venting. The tank can be fabricated under the same pressure-stabilized, thin, stainless steel monocoque construction as the current Centaur upper stage, and insulated with Centaur fixed foam and MLI. The tank contains a thermodynamic vent system (TVS) for control of tank pressure in zero and low gravity and for supply of propellant to the thrusters. An external compressor, accumulator and regulator condition the hydrogen boil-off provided by the TVS and provide for start-up and shut-down transients. The resulting system is simple, has a very low structural mass fraction and builds on the Centaur cryogenic upper stage technology, which has been operational for over 25 years.