Kestrel (rocket engine)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kestrel 2 | |
 SpaceX Kestrel |
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| Country of Origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
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| Propellant | LOX / RP-1 rocket grade |
| Cycle | pressure fed |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Thrust(Vac) | 6,900 pounds-force (31 kN) |
| Chamber pressure | 135 pounds per square inch (930 kPa) |
| Isp(Vac) | 317 s (3.1 km/s) |
| References | |
| [1] | |
The Kestrel engine is an LOX/RP-1 pressure-fed rocket engine. The Kestrel engine was developed by SpaceX for upper stage use on the Falcon 1 rocket.
Kestrel was built around the same pintle architecture as the Space X Merlin engine but does not have a turbo-pump and is fed only by tank pressure.
Kestrel is ablatively cooled in the chamber and throat and radiatively cooled in the nozzle, which is fabricated from a high strength niobium alloy. As a metal, niobium is highly resistant to cracking compared to carbon-carbon. According to SpaceX, an impact from orbital debris or during stage separation might dent the metal but have no meaningful effect on engine performance.[2] Helium pressurant efficiency is substantially increased via a titanium heat exchanger on the ablative/niobium boundary.[3]
Thrust vector control is provided by electro-mechanical actuators on the engine dome for pitch and yaw. Roll control (and attitude control during coast phases) is provided by helium cold gas thrusters.
A TEA-TEB pyrophoric system is used to provide multiple restart capability on the upper stage. In a multi-manifested mission, this allows for drop off at different altitudes and inclinations.
[edit] Kestrel 2
Enhancements to the design of the original Kestrel engine are planned. Changes will include tighter tolerances to improve consistency, higher Isp, and lighter weight.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Falcon 1 Users Guide" (PDF). SpaceX. 2008-09-28. http://www.spacex.com/Falcon1UsersGuide.pdf.
- ^ Greg Zsidisin (23 March 2007). "SpaceX Confirms Stage Bump On Demoflight 2". Space Daily. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/SpaceX_Confirms_Stage_Bump_On_Demoflight_2_999.html. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
- ^ "Falcon 1 Flight Three Press Kit" (PDF). SpaceX. http://www.spacex.com/SpaceX_F1-003_PressKit.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
- ^ Bergin, Chris; Braddock Gaskill (2007-09-24). "Elon Musk Q and A - Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon". NASAspaceflight.com. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5237. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
[edit] External links
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