Investigation of Novel Hydrogen/Oxygen Thruster for Orbital Maneuver in Space Station

Abstract

Hydrogen and oxygen orbital maneuver thruster, based on gas dynamic resonance ignition, is a new liquid rocket propulsion technology, and is especially applicable to space station. By means of theoretic thermodynamic calculation of the hydrogen and oxygen thruster, combined with the experimental exploration on the coaxial hydrogen and oxygen resonance ignition, a scheme of the thruster head configuration is designed as the combination of a coaxial hydrogen/oxygen resonance igniter and an oxygen augmentation injector. Through ignition tests on coaxial hydrogen/oxygen resonance igniter characterization, the thruster head ignition tests have been conducted successfully in sequence of resonance ignition and oxygen augmentation combustion. Finally, the thruster ground tests are successfully carried out informs of single impulse, successive double impulses and 3. 0 seconds continuous running, which verify the reliability and feasibility of the thruster. The response time of the thruster starting is restricted within 0.2 second.