NASA's Chemical Transfer Propulsion Program for Pathfinder

Pa th f i nde r i s a research and technology p r o j e c t , w i t h s p e c i f i c de l i ve rab les , i n i t i a t e d by t h e Na t iona l Aeronaut ics and Space Admin i s t ra t i on (NASA) which w i l l s t rengthen t h e technology base o f t h e Uni ted States c i v i l space program i n p repara t i on f o r f u t u r e space e x p l o r a t i o n missions. Pa th f i nde r begins i n F i s c a l Year 1989, and i s t o advance a c o l l e c t i o n o f c r i t i c a l technologies f o r these missions and ensure technology readiness f o r f u t u r e n a t i o n a l dec i s ions regard ing e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e s o l a r system. The f o u r major t h r u s t s o f Pa th f i nde r are: Surface Exp lo ra t i on , In-Space Operations, Humans-in-Space, and Space T rans fe r . The Space Transfer t h r u s t w i l l p rov ide t h e c r i t i c a l technologies needed f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t o , and r e t u r n from, t h e Moon, Mars, and o t h e r p lane ts i n t h e So la r System, as w e l l as f o r r e l i a b l e and c o s t e f f e c t i v e E a r t h o r b i t operat ions. A key element o f t h i s t h r u s t i s t h e Chemical T rans fe r Propuls ion program which w i l l p rov ide t h e p ropu ls ion technology f o r h igh performance, l i q u i d oxygen / l i qu id hydrogen expander c y c l e engines which may be operated and maintained i n space. These advanced engines w i l l enhance o r enable a v a r i e t y o f f u t u r e space e x p l o r a t i o n missions. This paper descr ibes t h e program overview i n c l u d i n g t h e goals and o b j e c t i v e s , management, t e c h n i c a l p lan, and technology t r a n s f e r f o r t h e Chemical Transfer Propuls ion element o f Pa th f i nde r . INTRODUCTION PROJECT PATHFINDER O V E R V I E W American leadersh ip on t h e space f r o n t i e r requ i res aggressive programs i n technology development. Technological advance w i l l be c r i t i c a l t o programs f o r f u t u r e space e x p l o r a t i o n missions (Ref. 1 ) . These missions may inc lude an i n t e n s i v e study o f t h e Earth, a r e t u r n t o t h e Moon, p i l o t e d missions t o Mars, and t h e con t inu ing r o b o t i c e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e S o l a r System (Ref. 2 ) . The technologies needed f o r success i n these ventures a r e many and var ied. The Na t iona l Aeronaut ics and Space A d m i n i s t r a t i o n (NASA), recogn iz ing t h a t i t must i n t e n s i f y and broaden t h e scope o f i t s research and technology program t o p rov ide t h e range o f t e c h n i c a l op t i ons and evaluate techno log ica l readiness i n s e l e c t areas t o enable f u t u r e space e x p l o r a t i o n missions, i s i n i t i a t i n g P r o j e c t Pa th f i nde r .