Victor Moseley from Laurel, MD

Manned Space Vehicle With Low-Level Hydrogen-Oxygen-Carbon Dioxide Propulsion Unit
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US Patent:

52794849, Jan 18, 1994
Filed:

Mar 11, 1992
Appl. No.:

7/849485
Inventors:

Frank S. Zimmermann - Vienna VA
Victor A. Moseley - Los Altos CA
Assignee:

Loral Aerospace Corporation - New York NY
International Classification:

B64G 140
B64G 148
US Classification:

244172
Abstract:

A manned space vehicle is described whose altitude control is achieved by constant drag compensation through the action of low level thrusters. The space vehicle include a low pressure electrolyzer that generates hydrogen and oxygen from water in a mass ratio of eight parts of oxygen to one part hydrogen. Oxygen and hydrogen from the electrolyzer are fed to the low level thrusters, with the oxygen proportion being reduced to limit thruster degradation. A life support system employs the excess oxygen from the electrolyzer and extracts carbon dioxide from the atmosphere of the vehicle. The extracted carbon dioxide is fed to the low level thrusters. The carbon dioxide enters into the combustion process with the oxygen and hydrogen, providing additional oxygen to the process and serving as a diluent to reduce the combustion temperature.