Facilities for Testing Rocket Engine Components Using Cryogenic Fluids as Propellants

Abstract

When an examination is made of rocket engine propellants which are characterized as high performance in value, it is apparent that these are dominated by fluids which are characterized as cryogenic in nature. Table I compares characteristic velocity values for some high-performance propellant combinations with some present-day propellant combinations. These high-energy propellants produce low-molecular-weight exhaust products at high combustion temperatures and the best propellant systems include the use of liquid hydrogen as the fuel. Table I clearly illustrates that the use of hydrogen as a nuclear fuel when heated to even relatively low temperature far exceeds the performance expectations of the best high-performance chemical propellant systems. Liquid hydrogen is employed instead of gaseous hydrogen because the increased density of the liquid reduces size and weights of storage tanks.