Hydrogen Peroxide Motor Exhaust Heating to Components at Cryogenic Temperatures in the Vacuum of Space

Abstract

The exhaust piume of rocket engines fired In the vacuum of space experiences an extremely wide expansion. The compact packaging on space vehicles, due to weight and space limitations, very often subjects equipment to engine exhaust plume heating. The impingement heating rates cannot be measured In the laboratory because of the difficulty In maintaining a vacuum environment during engine firing and the significant change of plume expansion characteristics due to the presence of a pressure field. On vehicles using cryogenic propeliants, Impingement heating becomes even more important because of the increased temperature potential between exhaust products and cryogenic temperature components and the general requirement to keep heating to the propellants at a minimum.

Work sponsored by NASA Lewis Research Center under Contract NAS3-8711.