Recent Advances and Challenges in Space Propulsion Technology

Dear Colleagues,

The Guest Editor is inviting submissions to a Special Issue of Energies on the subject area of “Recent Advances and Challenges in Space Propulsion Technology”.

Space propulsion systems produce thrust and are used to accelerate spacecraft or artificial satellites. Propulsion systems may generate thrust in different ways, depending on the operation principle. In the coming years, there will be an increase in public and private initiatives in space exploration. Currently, the major difficulties of space missions are related to the energy and propellant required for launch, transfer orbit, and maneuvering the spacecraft or satellite in orbit. Ongoing studies indicate that one of the main challenges we face is to develop new propulsion systems with higher thrust or specific impulse and better reliability which are more environmentally friendly and with lower cost.

Research has been conducted on different propulsion systems (chemical propulsion, electric propulsion, nuclear propulsion, laser propulsion, etc.). There are many complex problems involving supersonic and rarefied flow, flow instability, liquid injection and atomization, heat transfer, ignition and combustion in these propulsion systems, which still need to be further explored. Compared to the conventional toxic chemical propulsion technology, non-toxic green propulsion technology is an attractive alternative. Non-toxic propellants such as LH₂ and LO₂, LO₂ and hydrocarbon fuels, hydrogen peroxide, ADN–methanol–water, ADN-Glycerol-water, HAN-based monopropellant, NOFBX and Ionic liquids etc. have been used for green propulsion systems. At present, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of the physical and chemical phenomena during the operation of these green propellants. Self-pressurizing propulsion systems are currently gaining popularity in the propulsion community, particularly in hybrid rocket applications. However, technologies such as propellant and supply system design, ignition and backfire suppression, cooling technologies etc. still need further research and development. In recent years, electric propulsion technology has been gaining increasing attention due to its high specific impulse performance. Electric propulsion is a class of space propulsion which makes use of electrical power to accelerate a propellant by different possible electrical and/or magnetic means. In addition to Hall and ion propulsion systems, electric propulsion technologies such as microwave, plasma-based etc. are also being developed. The propellant flow rate of electric propulsion systems is usually small, and the systems need to work for a long time. This requires that the system components have stable and long-life operating capability, and also places high demands on the power module, in-orbit autonomous control and fault detection technology. Apart from that, the trend of satellite miniaturization requires small propulsion systems. Modular micro-propulsion systems, such as cold gas micro-propulsion and micro-electric propulsion systems, have become a popular and trending topic. Complex microscale flow phenomena exist in micro-propulsion systems. Artificial intelligence technologies are also playing an increasingly important role in advancing propulsion system development and control. This Special Issue invites work on all aspects of Space Propulsion Technology.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Flow, spray atomization, ignition, and combustion fundamentals of new-concept space propulsion systems.
• Heating and cooling technologies of advanced propulsion systems.
• Propellant flow characteristics in storage and supply systems.
• Non-toxic green, self-pressurizing and electric propulsion technology.
• Design, control methods and operating performance analysis of micro-propulsion systems.
• Application of artificial intelligence technology in the field of aerospace propulsion.

Dr. Yusong Yu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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