Ad

A.B. de Roos

info

Please Note

2 records found

Master thesis (2022) - A.B. de Roos, Matteo Monai, B.V.S. Jyoti
High concentration hydrogen peroxide (HP) promises to be an economical and green alternative for hydrazine. However, it has only limited storage life, and addition of stabilizers must be avoided to preserve the high purity required for propellants. This work has investigated the mechanical fastening of normally dissolved stabilizers on the decomposition of HP.
Furthermore, there is currently no suitable ignition system for HP-ethanol rocket motors, despite extensive research. This work has investigated the viability of using a supported catalyst to decompose HP; the hence liberated heat can potentially be used to ignite ethanol. Different mechanically rigid ceramic catalyst bodies were prepared based on manganese oxide. Their reactivity was verified by repeated release of 98% HP droplets; the subsequent reaction was monitored with thermocouples and high speed imaging. This showed that γ-alumina offered the highest reactivity and thermomechanical stability. Lastly, tests showed that these catalysts may induce ignition in HP-ethanol engines.

...
Piazzi is a mission to the 1989 UQ asteroid, with the goal of collecting a sample and returning it to Earth. This will be accomplished by sending a spacecraft to the asteroid, which will consist of three separate spacecraft. Firstly the orbiter, which houses the instruments needed to observe and map the asteroid, and the primary propulsion and communications systems. Then two spacecraft will detach from the orbiter, and each collect a sample in a distinct manner. One, ACSAL, will land on the asteroid, and collect a core sample using a drill. The other, SASH, will hover above the surface, and collect a regolith sample. Both ACSAL and SASH will return to Earth individually, shoot off a reentry capsule with the sample and burn up in the atmosphere themselves. ...