SIMPLICITY, RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABELITY 40 YEARS OF UPPER STAGE ENGINES AT SNECMA MOTEURS

摘要

Since 1960, Snecma Moteurs developed a range of upper stage engines that powered all European launch vehicles. This range of engines employed either cryogenic or storable propellants and encompassed all possible cycles: Pressure-fed for Astris main engine, Coralie engines, cryogenic H3 project Turbopump for Viking 4, H2 project, HM4 demonstrator, HM7, MS 100 Staged combustion for the H20 engine project Expander for Vinci Despite their vast range and variation, all these engines shared common design principles of simplicity, nigged construction and affordability resulting in high reliability. Some engines had original backgrounds : the Viking 4 was initially designed as a first-stage engine while the HM7, although designed for Ariane 1, will soon fly atop the heavy-lift Ariane 5. Coralie was the pioneer for vacuum ground-testing. This paper outlines not only the evolution of the upper stage engines but also of the complete propulsion systems (including the "stage" aspects) produced by Snecma Moteurs and its forebears over the past 40 years. The development of new test facilities able to perform vacuum simulations, from large scale tanks up to the altitude simulation used on Ariane engine development is also briefly addressed.