Technical Paper
Development of the Liquid Apogee Propulsion System for ETS-VI
1991-09-01
912085
The Engineering Test Satellite VI (ETS-VI) is a 2 ton class geostationary satellite to be launched by the H-II launch vehicle in 1993. The Liquid Apogee Propulsion System (LAPS) which is being developed for the ETS-VI is a pressure-fed, full blowdown bipropellant propulsion system using hydrazine and nitrogentetroxide (NTO) as propellants. During the engineering models (EMs) tests and the apogee kick engine (AKE) firing tests, several problems were encountered but could be settled. Especially a thermal problem, which was encountered during the design verification test of the AKE was settled by adopting a unique method “the step-up blowdown scheme”. In the LAPS program, not only the AKE but also other major components of the LAPS such as propellant tanks, 50 N class thruster, flowmeter, filter, bipropellant valve, fill-and-drain valve and pyrotechnic valves etc. were developed. This paper presents the outline of the development of the LAPS and technical accomplishments.
