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The Lampoldshausen Centre specialises in the design, development, manufacture, and testing of thrusters and complete propulsion systems for orbital satellites, interplanetary space probes, platforms, automated logistics vehicles, upper stage AOCS systems and launch vehicle roll control systems. Expertise is within the fields of ion, cold gas, monopropellant hydrazine and bipropellant thrusters ranging from 0.02 N to 500 N thrust. Since 1969, Lampoldshausen has supplied thrusters, propellant tanks, propellant and pressurant valves and complete satellite propulsion systems in support of over 250 international satellites, as well as spacecraft, interplanetary probes, launch vehicle roll control systems and upper stage AOCS systems. Having demonstrated superior performance and reliability, the Lampoldshausen centre has become Europe's leading supplier of small thrusters and satellite propulsion systems, with an annual and growing output of some 400 units. Hot-fire testing of thrusters, rocket engines and complete propulsion systems is performed at the Lampoldshausen Test Centre, which is located with the ESA test facility within the German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
HYDRAZINE
THRUSTERS
Hydrazine thrusters are available from 0.1 N to 400 N nominal thrust and are typically used for commercial, scientific and military spacecraft. The 400 N hydrazine thruster is also used on Ariane 5. Here, Lampoldshausen's largest hydrazine thruster becomes the smallest engine used on Ariane 5.
The 400 N thruster forms part of the Ariane 5 Attitude Control System (ACS) and is located around the Vehicle Equipment (avionics) Bay (VEB), in 2 modules of three or four thrusters. The 400 N ACS has a multiple role in serving both the launch vehicle and its payload, for:
In addition to the 400 N thrusters, the Lampoldshausen centre supplies the complete ACS propulsion system for Ariane 5
BIPROPELLANT
THRUSTERS
Bipropellant thrusters are available in 4 N, 10 N, 20 N and 400 N thrust levels. Thrusters up to 20 N are designed for both long term steady state operation and pulse mode operation. They can also operate over a wide pressure range in both pressure regulated and system blow down modes. All bipropellant thrusters produced at Lampoldshausen have their combustion chamber and nozzle throat manufactured from a heat and oxidation resistant platinum alloy. This enables longer life and higher operating temperatures to maximise thruster performance. In addition, the use of this alloy avoids the need for surface coatings. The uncoated surfaces are absolutely resistant against oxidation and are invulnerable to handling, the use of test sensors and pulse mode cycling. As well as complete thrusters and bipropellant propulsion systems, component parts can also be supplied, including thrust frames and heat shield kits. We can supply for any mission, man or non-man rated.
ION
THRUSTERS
Assembly (RITA). Consequently, it was the Lampoldshausen team who developed the first ion propulsion system in Europe. During a durability trial conducted in a Lampoldshausen test chamber, RITA broke a world record when it ran for more than 20,000 hours.
The outstanding features of RITA includes a specific impulse in the range 3000 to 5000 seconds, adjustable thrust from 15 to 135%, operating life greater than 20,000 hours and 85% less propellant demand than that of bipropellant thrusters. These attributes enable the RITA ion thruster to provide a significant saving in a satellite's propulsion mass and volume that can be used for more payload and / or reduced launch cost. For example, a 4100 kg spacecraft in GEO using conventional propellants over its 15 year life would save around 574 kg in propellant mass by using RITA. Alternatively, the saving may be used for extending satellite service life for which the RITA ion thruster is designed. The RITA ion thruster can be used for station keeping, attitude control and Orbital transfers between LEO, MEO and GEO. Compared to classical propellants, the RITA ion thruster does not pollute the space environment since it is driven by environmentally friendly Xenon gas. Its minimal propellant consumption and long life makes the RITA thruster ideally suited for research flights and deep space missions to Mars, Mercury or Saturn. In 2001, a RITA ion propulsion system was integrated to the Artemis telecommunications satellite as a redundant satellite propulsion system. Due to an upper stage malfunction, Artemis was injected into a low elliptical orbit with the threat of a lost mission. However, the redundant ion propulsion system was called into service and succeeded in raising Artemis into a circular 32,000 km orbit in January 2003, thereby allowing the communications satellite to fulfil its nominal 10-year life.
PROPELLANT
TANKS Propellant tanks are produced in a range of sizes and types including surface tension propellant tanks, diaphragm propellant tanks, bladder propellant tanks, propellant tanks for spin stabilised spacecraft and high pressure propellant tanks. In the forefront are satellite propellant tanks, for both large satellites in geostationary orbit and for small satellites in low Earth orbit. Propellant tanks for orbital platforms, space probes, launch vehicle attitude and orbital control systems. Hydrazine propellant tanks for the Ariane 5 Attitude and Roll Control System. Lampoldshausen is also responsible for the development of propellant tanks for the Automated Transfer Vehicle, used for the resupply of logistics to the International Space Station. Lampoldshausen centre has supplied over 300 propellant tanks, of different designs, to world-wide customers.
PROPULSION
SYSTEMS
The first bipropellant propulsion system developed at Lampoldshausen was in 1974 for Symphonie. This was a joint German-French telecommunications programme comprising two Symphonie satellites launched in 1974 and 1975 by Thor Delta. The satellites provided the transmission of television and radio programmes, telephone, fax and data. Symphonie had three different independent propulsion systems. One for apogee injection, one for orbit control and one for attitude control - unlike today's modern Unified Propulsion Systems. Modern Unified Propulsion Systems, produced at Lampoldshausen, comprise a common propellant tank system that feeds both the apogee engine and clusters of miniature attitude control thrusters. The first Unified Propulsion Systems developed at Lampoldshausen was for NASA's Galileo interplanetary spacecraft, launched in 1989.
Galileo's propulsion system comprised a 400 N engine and twelve 10 N thrusters and controlled Galileo's six year journey to Jupiter. After orbiting Jupiter for two years, it then steered Galileo to within 400 km of the Jovian moons The Galileo mission set a world record for the longest operational life of a UPS system. More recently, the Lampoldshausen team supplied the propulsion system for ESA's Mars Express probe, which successfully entered a safe and precise polar orbit around Mars. The Mars Express propulsion system comprises a 400 N bipropellant main engine and eight 10 N thrusters. Oxidiser and fuel is supplied from two propellant tanks, having a total volume of 540 litres. The propellants are pressure-fed using helium stored in a 35 litre pressure vessel. UPS systems developed at the the Lampoldshausen Centre, have now become a standard for international satellite and spacecraft manufacturers around the world.
HOT
FIRE TEST FACILITIES
The Lampoldshausen Test Centre was the inspiration of Professor Saenger in 1960. At that time, he was seeking a site close to his research facility in nearby Stuttgart. The test area later expanded with the introduction of the P3 and P4 test stands for ELDO. Today, much of its 45 hectares is utilised for the Ariane programme and it is here that we test the Vulcain thrust chamber. The Vulcain 2 thrust chamber, generates a thrust of 138 tonnes. Its P5 test stand can accommodate 35 tests a year. The test stands' hydrogen tank accommodates 600 cubic meters (over 150,000 US gallons) and can keep the Vulcain 2 engine firing for 13 minutes. The main hot fire test facilities at Lampoldshausen include:
SUPPORTING
SERVICES
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