Patent ID: 7762498
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: B64G,F02K

Abstract:
1. A propulsion system comprising: a liquid apogee engine further comprising a plurality of inlets; a plurality of propellant tanks, each in fluid communication with said plurality of inlets via a propellant line; a plurality of low-mass electric pumps inserted in respective propellant lines, said plurality of low-mass electric pumps providing liquid apogee engine inlet pressure between 500 pounds-force per square inch absolute and 1000 pounds-force per square inch absolute; a pump controller configured to modulate current drive inputs to said plurality of low-mass electric pumps based upon command inputs; and an on-board computer configured to calculate the command inputs based upon liquid apogee engine inlet pressure and a pressure profile, and transmit the command inputs to said pump controller, wherein said on-board computer is further configured to compute the pressure profile based on an executed maneuver and an elapsed maneuver time.