Patent ID: 9242746
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: B64G,F02K

Claim Text:
1. A propulsion system for a spacecraft, comprising: a main tank adapted to contain a volume of propellant and a pressurizing gas which applies pressure to the propellant, the main tank comprising a membrane delimiting an upper volume to contain the pressurizing gas and a lower volume to contain the propellant, the gas applying pressure to the propellant by means of said membrane, said membrane being sealed and isolates the pressurizing gas from the propellant; a pressurization circuit connected directly to the main tank; the propulsion system being characterized in that it further comprises an auxiliary tank adapted to also contain pressurizing gas, the auxiliary tank being connected directly to the main tank by means of the pressurization circuit without a valve so that when in operation, the gas contained in the auxiliary tank expands continuously with the gas contained in the upper volume of the main tank, the pressures prevailing in the upper volume of the main tank, in the pressurization circuit and in the auxiliary tank being identical, the auxiliary tank being dimensioned so that the maximum volume of propellant (Vc,0) of the main tank is greater than the volume of propellant which the main tank can contain when the propulsion system comprises no auxiliary tank.