tech track papers

Categories: 2018, Small Satellites

Modern Approach to Liquid Rocket Engine Development for Microsatellite Launchers

Microsatellites have been carried to space as secondary payloads aboard larger launchers for many years. However, the secondary payload method does not offer the specificity required for modern day demands such as increasingly sophisticated small satellites that have unique orbital and launch-time requirements. Furthermore, to remain competitive the launch cost must be as low as $7000/kg. With this in mind, SoftInWay Inc. is developing a system engineering approach focused on the design of both the liquid rocket engine turbopump and the entire engine which reduces the duration and cost of development.

This approach applied to the engineering system development is explained in detail, including modern aerothermodynamics simulation models and structural analysis of the pump and turbine of a turbopump, procedures for turbopump layout selection, secondary flows system simulation, determination and balancing/mitigation of axial and radial loads on the rotor, bearings simulation, rotor dynamics analysis, mass and dimensions minimization procedures, turbopump spinning considering different options and other aspects.

Examples of the system engineering approach  to the design of the liquid rocket engine of a microsatellite launcher will be presented.

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Author: Maksym Burlaka, Leonid Moroz
Topic: Small Satellites

  • Paper: Modern Approach to Liquid Rocket Engine Development for Microsatellite Launchers

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  • Presentation: Modern Approach to Liquid Rocket Engine Development for Microsatellite Launchers

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