NASA, Derin Uzay Görevleri için Devrim Niteliğinde İtiş Gücü Tasarlıyor

beğenmek[{” attribute=””>NASA takes its first steps toward establishing a long-term presence on the Moon’s surface, a team of propulsion development engineers at NASA have developed and tested NASA’s first full-scale rotating detonation rocket engine, or RDRE, an advanced rocket engine design that could significantly change how future propulsion systems are built.

The RDRE differs from a traditional rocket engine by generating thrust using a supersonic combustion phenomenon known as a detonation. This design produces more power while using less fuel than today’s propulsion systems and has the potential to power both human landers and interplanetary vehicles to deep space destinations, such as the Moon and Mars.

mühendisler NASA Marshall Uzay Uçuş Merkezi Alabama, Huntsville’de ve West Lafayette, Indiana’da yerleşik ana işbirlikçi IN Space LLC, 2022’de Eastern Marshall Test Alanında gerçekleştirilen RDRE sıcak yangın testlerinden elde edilen verileri doğruladı. Motor bir düzineden fazla kez ateşlendi ve toplamda yaklaşık 10 dakika sürdü.

RDRE, yeni katmanlı üretim veya 3D baskı, tasarımlar ve süreçlerle yapılan cihazlarının, patlatma tarafından üretilen aşırı ısı ve basınç ortamlarına dayanarak uzun süre çalışabileceğini göstererek birincil test hedefine ulaştı. Tam gazda çalışan RDRE, bu tasarım için şimdiye kadarki en yüksek basınç derecesi olan 622 psi ortalama hazne basıncında yaklaşık bir dakika boyunca 4.000 libreden fazla itme kuvveti üretti.

Döner Patlatmalı Roket Motoru veya Marshall Uzay Uçuş Merkezinde RDRE Sıcak Ateşleme Testi. Kredi bilgileri: NASA

RDRE, NASA tarafından geliştirilen bakır içerir[{” attribute=””>alloy GRCop-42 with the powder bed fusion additive manufacturing process, allowing the engine to operate under extreme conditions for longer durations without overheating.

Additional milestones achieved during the test include the successful performance of both deep throttling and internal ignition. This successful demonstration brings the technology closer to being used with future flight vehicles, enabling NASA and commercial space to move more payload and mass to deep space destinations, an essential component to making space exploration more sustainable. Because of NASA’s recent success with the RDRE, follow-on work is being conducted by NASA engineers to develop a fully reusable 10,000-pound class RDRE to identify performance benefits over traditional liquid rocket engines.

Thrust propulsion testing and characterization of the University of Central Florida rotating detonation rocket engine is shown in this photo. NASA provided funding for a UCF project focused on rotating detonation rocket engines, which use high-energy explosions to produce more energy with less fuel, improving engine efficiency and cutting down space travel costs and emissions. Credit: UCF

RDRE is managed and funded by the Game Changing Development Program in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.