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T0128-S

Zero-gravity Green Propellant Management Technology

PI: Steven Collicott, Purdue University

A relatively new domestically-produced green propellant from AFRL, AFM-315E, is gaining attention in the spaceflight field. Crucial to continued development of this new technology is the demonstration of surface tension propellant management in low-gravity. Propellant management is performed with the sheet metal vanes of a propellant management device, or PMD (also known as liquid or fluid acquisition devices.) Proposed is one sub-orbital rocket flight for an automated payload to demonstrate the zero-gravity surface tension propellant management of AFM-315E.

Technology Areas (?)
  • TA02 In-Space Propulsion Technologies
Technology Maturation

Two tank and PMD combinations are proposed: one representing typical PMD for a GEO satellite and one representing a typical PMD from an inter-planetary spacecraft. Acquisition of video data during low-g portion of the rocket flight will move the TRL of zero-gravity surface tension propellant management of AFM-315E from TRL 4 to TRL 5.

Future Customers

This aids the Green Propellant Infusion Mission and can impact many future missions and vehicles.

Payload Description

Below image shows the Armadillo STIG rocket packaging for the experiment instrumentation and control circuitry being built for the proposed UP Aerospace flight test.

Technology Details

  • Selection Date
    AFO8 (Apr 2014)
  • Program Status
    Active
  • Current TRL (?)
    Unknown
    Successful FOP Flights
  • 1 sRLV

Development Team

Web Accessibility and Privacy Notices Curator: Alexander van Dijk Responsible NASA Official: Stephan Ord Last Update: November 16, 2018