Advanced Rocket Propulsion Technologies

Kelly Space & Technology, Inc. (KST) and WASK Engineering, Inc. are teamed to develop next generation cooling applications for Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) systems using transpiration cooling technology. Specific applications include active cooling of rocket engine components, high-heat vehicle surfaces and leading edges for reentry heating protection. The benefits of active cooling are added vehicle safety and vehicle life extension. This proprietary technology has a direct, near term application to cooling rocket engine components for extended life as well. With the rocket engine application being the most severe environment, KST and WASK Engineering have developed a program plan to demonstrate this cooling technology in a rocket engine test article that will characterize a variety of coolant fluids for application to launch vehicles or rocket engines. As currently planned, the team will use a 40,000 pound thrust transpiration cooled rocket engine as the test article for evaluating the performance of the various coolant fluids with testing conducted at the Jet & Rocket Engine Test Site (JRETS) rocket test stand at the former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California. KST will incorporate hardware solutions in its orbital RLV configurations for both the boost phase vehicle and fly-back upper stage vehicles.