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Space Access Society 2007. March 22, 2007 Timothy B. Bendel, President Mark Marasch Shariar “Jack” Ghalam Jim Amos. Team. What We Do. Frontier Astronautics is a mild-mannered subcontractor, supplying the burgeoning Entrepreneurial Space industry with hard to obtain technology
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Space Access Society 2007 March 22, 2007 Timothy B. Bendel, President Mark Marasch Shariar “Jack” Ghalam Jim Amos
What We Do • Frontier Astronautics is a mild-mannered subcontractor, supplying the burgeoning Entrepreneurial Space industry with hard to obtain technology • Attitude Control Systems • Rocket Engines • Rocket Propellants • Test Facilities
Attitude Control Systems • Attitude Control Systems (“Guidance Systems”) • Classical vs. State Space design • Classical • Typically considers each axis independently (single input, single output or SISO), cross coupling is fudged • Uses “Transfer Functions”; no modeling of internal physics • Uses relatively simple control laws (integrals and derivatives) • State Space • Originally developed by Soviet space program • Correctly models multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems • Models system physics using a set of simultaneous differential equations (can be linear and non-linear) • Control law solutions are inherently coupled and model the entire system more accurately
State Space vs. Classical ACS • Boeing Delta 2 ACS was modified for Delta 3 Notice the similarities of the two launch vehicles. Boeing felt that they could modify the Delta 2 guidance system to work on the Delta 3
State Space vs. Classical ACS • The Result: • A roll oscillation mode, never before • the primary oscillation mode for the • Delta 2, became the primary oscillation • mode for the Delta 3 due to the larger • strap on solid rockets • Guidance system misinterpreted this • oscillation as a disturbance, and • expended all of its hydraulic fluid • trying to fight it • This could not have happened if a • State Space model were used as the • simultaneous differential equation modeling of the kinematics of the vehicle would • automatically take this into account (Disclaimer: I have never worked for Boeing, but the explanation of the failure belies the problem) • A very similar failure occurred when Arianespace used a modified Ariane 4 control system on an Ariane 5
Attitude Control Systems • Attitude Control Systems • We can provide complete Attitude Control Systems for your prototype vehicle • Inertial guidance • GPS • State Space theory, full state feedback design • State Estimator design
Masten XA-0.1 ACS • Pilot will command vehicle rates to the ACS • GPS data used to correct IMU for drift • GPS also used to guide pilot to target • To be flown for the Lunar Lander Challenge • Masten XA-0.1 is the prototype for their suborbital space vehicle
Masten XA-0.1 ACS Fixed hinge mount angle, β, 0º Aero pressure z x y Engine thrusts g β Z Hinge mount angle, β, fixed (assume 0º) Constraint Engines may hinge in one plane (not gimbal) tangent to the cylinder body, ±15 degrees off axis Hinge angle, α, 15º max Y X α • Masten XA-0.1 has four engines located on the circumference of the base System to be controlled
Masten XA-0.1 ACS Lateral flight for a typical VTVL rocket Lateral flight for Masten XA-0.1 • Frontier Astronautics’ design allows an ACS to accelerate the vehicle laterally without tipping the vehicle • This “Crabbing” maneuver helps landing on rough terrain as well as terminal landing accuracy Md Mh g g Engines are individually throttled and hinged F Fx Fz Md: Moment due to differential thrust Mh: Moment due to hinge angle Md = Mh Fx
Masten XA-0.1 ACS Md Md Md Md Mh Mh Mh Mh Md Mh Md Mh g g g g g g Fz Fz Fz Fz Fx Fx Md Mh g Fz • Frontier Astronautics’ design allows an ACS to accelerate the vehicle laterally without tipping the vehicle • This “Crabbing” maneuver helps landing on rough terrain as well as terminal landing accuracy
Attitude Control Systems • ACS Simulation
SpeedUp ACS • SpeedUp Lunar Lander Challenge vehicle • “Laramie Rose” • Prototype vehicle to prove concept of SpeedUp’s “Flying Motorcycle”
SpeedUp ACS g F Fz Fx • Frontier Astronautics’ design allows for accurate landing on a pre-determined location • Hands-off flight • Three control vanes Landing location is known so ACS can initiate brake at the correct time Lateral flight for “Laramie Rose” Stationary Hover Over Landing Pad Constant Velocity Deceleration Acceleration nozzle g vane F F F Fz Fx
SpeedUp ACS m m m • “Pilot” presses button • Vehicle flies a pre-programmed trajectory • GPS used to correct IMU for drift
Rocket Engines • Viper™ engine • Pressure fed LOX/Kerosene • 7500 lbf thrust • Designed to be clustered for 30,000 lbf • Removable inexpensive ablative liner • Low injector pressure drop allows lighter flight system (tanks)
Viper™ Engine • Modular design for ease of maintenance • Ablative nozzle designed to be replaced in minutes for fast turn around flights • Patent Office notice of publication granted, to be published 4/12/07 • We are willing to license this technology
Viper™ Engine Injector designed for stable combustion despite having a low pressure drop across the injector face • This allows the use of a pressure fed system (no turbo pump) without heavy propellant tanks
Viper™ Engine • General Concept: • Dimension injector for harmonics to destructively interfere • Combustion instability is mitigated without the need to have a large injector pressure drop
Viper™ Engine • Helmholtz resonators located around periphery of injector face • The resonators damp the tangential, longitudinal and radial primary frequencies • Used on Shuttle OMS engines • Spintle™ is also dimensioned to damp the tangential, longitudinal and radial primary frequencies • Fuel and oxidizer is injected to mix at the half-integer of the primary wavelength as well • This results in combustion oscillations being damped before they have a chance to amplify and affect the engine
Rocket Engines • Asp™: engine • Pressure fed hydrogen peroxide • 1500 lbf thrust • Uses a dual catalyst for rapid warm up • Does not need the catalyst pack to be loaded under pressure by hydraulic press; lowers servicing requirements • Design reduces hydrogen peroxide blow-by (wasted energy) • Throttle Range: 300 lbf to 1500 lbf
Asp™ Engine • Frontier Astronautics designed, built and tested the Asp™ Rocket Engine for SpeedUp • 80% - 99% Hydrogen Peroxide • Catalyst pack does not require compression loading • Design reduces hydrogen peroxide blow-by (wasted energy) • Throttle Range: 300 lbf to 1500 lbf -insert picture here-
Asp™ Engine • Vertical Engine Test Insert Asp picture / mpg here
Services Vehicle Design, Assembly and Testing SpeedUp’s “Laramie Rose”
Site Services • Test your rocket engines • Engine testing: horizontal
Site Services • Engine testing: vertical
Site Services Services Available Full vehicle testing (hardware in the loop) • Vehicle ACS is tested simultaneously with engine test • Hardware performance is measured, not simulated, to validate the ACS design prior to flight
Propellants Hydrogen peroxide production • This would not our sole product so we will be available for the smaller company • We are currently firing rocket motors using imported hydrogen peroxide • We will invest in equipment to produce it ourselves if we can develop an anchor customer(s) Insert picture of h2o2
Site Services • Main Shop Area Insert picture of shop
Research and Development • Propellant Research
Site Services • Services Available • Machining assistance • Secure storage space available for rent • SpeedUp currently on lease • 90% of storage space is still available • Intellectual Property will be maintained • Test flights • Started the application to FAA/AST for Suborbital test license • Wyoming Economic Development Council supports idea of Private Spaceport • Launch support
Launch License Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation “Plans for future infrastructure include a functioning 2,225,000-newton (500,000-pound-force) vertical test stand for engine testing, a horizontal engine test stand, up to three vertical launch pads, on-site machine shop, and shooting range.”
Contact Information • www.FrontierAstronautics.com • Info@FrontierAstronautics.com • Phone: 307-331-3043 • FAX: 866-867-3701