RECENT PROGRESS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOX/LCH4 ROCKET ENGINE DEMONSTRATOR IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ITALIAN HYPROB PROGRAM

摘要

Propulsion systems based on hydrocarbons, either liquid or hybrid, represent nowadays a major technology challenge for future launchers and space transportation systems, to be pursued through R&T demonstration programs addressing enabling technologies. The HYPROB program, a building element of the Italian Aerospace Propulsion Program, is carried out by CIRA under contract by the Italian Ministry of Research with the main objective to enable and improve National system and technology capabilities on liquid rocket engines (LRE) using propulsion systems for future space applications, with specific regard to LOX/LCH4 technology, in coherence with the long-term vision of the Italian Space Agency on Space Propulsion and the needs of industrial national stakeholders.. The present paper reports the current progress on the development of a LOx/LCH4 rocket engine demonstrator in the framework of the HYPROB program.