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Tethered orbital refueling studyOne of the major applications of the space station will be to act as a refueling depot for cryogenic-fueled space-based orbital transfer vehicles (OTV), Earth-storable fueled orbit maneuvering vehicles, and refurbishable satellite spacecraft using hydrazine. One alternative for fuel storage at the space station is a tethered orbital refueling facility (TORF), separated from the space station by a sufficient distance to induce a gravity gradient force that settles the stored fuels. The technical feasibility was examined with the primary focus on the refueling of LO2/LH2 orbital transfer vehicles. Also examined was the tethered facility on the space station. It was compared to a zero-gravity facility. A tethered refueling facility should be considered as a viable alternative to a zero-gravity facility if the zero-gravity fluid transfer technology, such as the propellant management device and no vent fill, proves to be difficult to develop with the required performance.
Document ID
19870007422
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Fester, Dale A. (Martin Marietta Corp. Denver, CO, United States)
Rudolph, L. Kevin (Martin Marietta Corp. Denver, CO, United States)
Kiefel, Erlinda R. (Martin Marietta Corp. Denver, CO, United States)
Abbott, Peter W. (Martin Marietta Corp. Denver, CO, United States)
Grossrode, Pat (Martin Marietta Corp. Denver, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1986
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Report/Patent Number
MCR-86-587
MCR-86-591
NAS 1.26:171954
NASA-CR-171954
Accession Number
87N16855
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-17059
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-17422
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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