Green Propellant Infusion Mission
![]() Artist's rendering of GPIM on Earth orbit | |
Mission type | Technology demonstrator |
---|---|
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 2019-036D |
SATCAT no. | 44342 |
Website | www |
Mission duration | Planned: 14 months[1] Final: 1 year, 3 months, 19 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | BCP-100 |
Manufacturer | Ball Aerospace |
Dry mass | 158 kg (348 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 25 June 2019, 06:30 UTC[2] |
Rocket | Falcon Heavy |
Launch site | Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A |
Contractor | SpaceX |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Deorbited |
Decay date | 14 October 2020[3] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 710 km (440 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 724 km (450 mi) |
Inclination | 24.0° |
The Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) was a
The Green Propellant Infusion Mission launched aboard a
Development
Propellant
The propellant for this mission is hydroxylammonium nitrate (NH3OHNO3) fuel/oxidizer blend, also known as AF-M315E.[6][10] Preliminary data indicates that it offers nearly 50% higher performance for a given propellant tank volume compared to a conventional monopropellant hydrazine system.[4][6][10] The Green Propellant Infusion Mission sought to improve overall propellant efficiency while reducing the toxic handling concerns associated with the highly toxic propellant hydrazine.[5][11] The new propellant is an energetic ionic liquid. Ionic liquids are salt compounds in a liquid form whose molecules have either a positive or negative charge, which bonds them together more tightly and makes the liquid more stable.[12]
This new propellant is also expected to be significantly less harmful to the environment.
Following the success of GPIM, the AF-M315E propellent was renamed ASCENT (Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic) in preparation for commercial use and production.[14]
Satellite
The GPIM system flew aboard the small Ball Configurable Platform 100 (BCP-100) spacecraft bus.[6][11] Aerojet Rocketdyne was responsible for the development of the propulsion system payload, and the technology demonstration mission employed an Aerojet-developed advanced monopropellant payload module as the sole means of on-board propulsion.[10]
Scientific payload
The Defense Department's Space Experiments Review board selected three payloads to be hosted aboard GPIM:
- An Air Force Academy instrument to characterize Earth's ionosphere and thermosphere.
- A Naval Research Laboratory instrument to measure plasma densities and temperatures.
- An Air Force Institute of Technology instrument that will test space collision avoidance measures.[15] Over the course of its mission, GPIM uses these instruments to monitor space weather and continuously track its own position and velocity.[1]
Applications
Once proven in flight, the project presents AF-M315E/ASCENT propellant and compatible tanks, valves and thrusters to NASA and the commercial spaceflight industry as "a viable, effective solution for future green propellant-based mission applications".
In addition to its use on lighter satellites and rockets, the fuel's exceptional volumetric storage properties is also being assessed for military uses such as missile launches.[6]
See also
- 2-Dimethylaminoethylazide
- ALICE (propellant)
- Crawford burner
- Green Propellant Reaction Control System
- Ion thruster
- List of Stoffs
- Nitrous oxide fuel blend
- Nuclear propulsion
- Project Morpheus
- Timeline of hydrogen technologies
- Trinitramide
References
- ^ a b "NASA Technology Missions Launch on SpaceX Falcon Heavy" (Press release). NASA. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Bartels, Megan (25 June 2019). "SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket Lofts 24 Satellites in 1st Night Launch". Space.com. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ "GPIM". N2YO.com. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ a b c "The Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)" (PDF). Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. March 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "About Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)". NASA. 2014. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e f "Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)". Ball Aerospace. 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ a b c "Green Propellant Infusion Mission Project" (PDF). NASA. July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (7 September 2018). "Air Force releases new target dates for upcoming military launches". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ Casey, Tina (19 July 2013). "NASA Sets Its Sights On $45 Million Green Fuel Mission". Clean Technica. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ a b c Spores, Ronald A.; Robert Masse, Scott Kimbrel, Chris McLean (15–17 July 2013), "GPIM AF-M315E Propulsion System" (PDF), 49th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, San Jose, California, USA, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2014, retrieved 27 February 2014
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Mohon, Lee (2013). "Technology Demonstration Missions: Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)". NASA. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b Scharr, Jillian (16 May 2013). "New Rocket Fuel Helps NASA 'Go Green'". Tech News Daily. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ Carter, Troy (13 March 2019). "As NASA in-orbit test nears, Nevada company licenses Air Force's "green" rocket fuel". TechLink. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (21 January 2021). "Green propellant successfully demonstrated on NASA mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ Gruss, Mike (17 October 2014). "NASA Green Propellant Mission To Host Three Pentagon Experiments". SpaceNews. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ David, Leonard (13 April 2016). "Spacecraft Powered by 'Green' Propellant to Launch in 2017". Space. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
External links
- Spores, Ronald A.; Robert Masse, Scott Kimbrel, Chris McLean (15–17 July 2013), "GPIM AF-M315E Propulsion System", 49th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit (PDF), San Jose, California, USA, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2014, retrieved 27 February 2014
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)