{"id":61350,"date":"2016-07-19T16:36:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-19T20:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-386665"},"modified":"2023-07-26T15:12:57","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T19:12:57","slug":"evaluation-of-additively-manufactured-consumable-structure-options-for-small-spacecraft-propulsion-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/space-tech-research-grants\/evaluation-of-additively-manufactured-consumable-structure-options-for-small-spacecraft-propulsion-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Evaluation of Additively-Manufactured, Consumable Structure Options for Small Spacecraft Propulsion Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Britany Chamberlain <\/strong><br>\n<em>Utah State University<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Britany Chamberlain\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg 3367w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=225,300 225w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=768,1024 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=1152,1536 1152w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=1536,2048 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=300,400 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=450,600 450w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=675,900 675w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=900,1200 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?resize=1500,2000 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Britany Chamberlain<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A propulsion system for small spacecraft is proposed that will be partially contained in the spacecraft structure. The preliminary design will fit into a 3-Unit (U) sized CubeSat with the payload occupying 1-U and the propulsion system occupying the remaining space. The structure of the 2-U section will be partially comprised of four additively-manufactured acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) fueled hybrid rocket motors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additively manufacturing the ABS fuel grains serves two purposes. One, it allows the fuel grains to be 3D printed within the overall spacecraft structure, thereby replacing structural mass with usable fuel. Once the fuel has been exhausted, a portion of the structure will remain to ensure the spacecraft structure continues to be sound. Second, unlike extruded ABS, 3D printed ABS possesses the capability to produce electrical arc ignition when a voltage is sent through electrodes embedded in the fuel grain. Such ignition coupled with the hybrid rocket motor\u2019s throttling abilities results in a reliably restartable propulsive system. Since the hybrid motor fuel and oxidizer are stored separately, there is also no chance of accidental ignition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A safe, reliable, restartable propulsion system is desirable for small spacecraft that must participate in rideshares to reach orbit. Once placed in orbit, the spacecraft must rely on on-board propulsion for attitude and orbit control. The proposed partially-consumable structure will increase the safety and efficiency of small spacecraft propulsion compared to currently available hydrazine systems. This is significant for small spacecraft endeavors because rideshares are more likely to accept spacecraft that contain non-hazardous propulsive fuels that will not accidentally ignite. Additionally, an on-board propulsion system with restart capabilities will grant small spacecraft missions the ability to pursue a wider range of mission objectives. The proposed mass-reducing and safety- and efficiency-increasing propulsion system is an innovative enhancement for the growing small spacecraft industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/directorates\/spacetech\/strg\/nstrf-2016\"><strong>Back to NSTRF 2016 Full List<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Britany Chamberlain Utah State University A propulsion system for small spacecraft is proposed that will be partially contained in the spacecraft structure. The preliminary design will fit into a 3-Unit (U) sized CubeSat with the payload occupying 1-U and the propulsion system occupying the remaining space. The structure of the 2-U section will be partially […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":63446,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3337],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[9529,12750],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Evaluation of Additively-Manufactured, Consumable Structure Options for Small Spacecraft Propulsion Systems","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/space-tech-research-grants\/evaluation-of-additively-manufactured-consumable-structure-options-for-small-spacecraft-propulsion-systems\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/space-tech-research-grants\/evaluation-of-additively-manufactured-consumable-structure-options-for-small-spacecraft-propulsion-systems\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Directorates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Loura Hall"}],"creator":["Loura Hall"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Space Technology Research Grants"],"dateCreated":"2016-07-19T20:36:00Z","datePublished":"2016-07-19T20:36:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T19:12:57Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Evaluation of Additively-Manufactured, Consumable Structure Options for Small Spacecraft Propulsion Systems\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/space-tech-research-grants\/evaluation-of-additively-manufactured-consumable-structure-options-for-small-spacecraft-propulsion-systems\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2016-07-19T20:36:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Directorates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Space Technology Research Grants\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Loura Hall\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":2,"time_ago":"8 years","featured_image":{"id":63446,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chamberlain_britany.jpg","title":"chamberlain_britany","alt":"Britany Chamberlain","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61350"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61350"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":463512,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61350\/revisions\/463512"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61350"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=61350"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=61350"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=61350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}