Developing capabilities to support NASA’s mission to take astronauts to a variety of deep-space destinations, through innovations in propellant management and chemical, electric and nuclear propulsion technology.
There are several components that make up chemical propulsion systems. These can be divided into three major groups: The Propellant Delivery/Feed System, the Thrust Chamber Assembly, and sometimes Thrust Vector Control systems. Each of these groups can be further broken down into specific components that make up the group, and often have dedicated branches or … Read the rest ⇢
Hydrogen is stored at cryogenic temperatures (20 K) to maintain the propellant in a liquid state by Cryogenic Fluid Management Systems. Includes plumbing, valves, filters, and fluid management devices needed to ensure the propellant is adequately delivered to the reactor at the right conditions. The Turbopump includes turbomachinery/pumps needed to help push and condition the … Read the rest ⇢
The heart of “rocket science”, analysis is the research and engineering of examining current and future engine designs, examining test data, specification sheets, design details, as well as the anticipated conditions the spacecraft or vehicle will be subjected to. These all help to describe the overall performance of an engine system, and analysis ensures that … Read the rest ⇢
Multiphysics analysis of the reactor (FEA/CFD/MCNP) combines neutronics, fluid, thermal, and structural simulations all coupled together, which captures design subtleties otherwise not seen without coupling the simulations. Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) is an object-oriented, non-linear code originally developed at GRC in 1995 and is used to model full engine systems and integrate model details … Read the rest ⇢
Leading research, testing and analysis to support the development of nuclear thermal propulsion for spacecraft and vehicles.
“Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.” —Inscription on Columbus’ ships
Designing and testing chemical propulsion systems and nuclear thermal engines for satellites and spacecraft, in support of NASA’s space exploration missions.
