1. Nicole Wilcox January 31, 2008 Propulsion – Optimization Cost Code Masses and Costs of Propellants
AAE 450 Spring 2008

2. Delta_v = 18 km/s Code by : Nicole Wilcox and Stephen Bluestone
Two Stage – 5 kg Payload
Prop Mass Stg. 1 (kg)
Prop Mass Stg. 2 (kg)
Prop Mass Total (kg)
Total Mass (kg)
Total Cost ($)
Inert Mass Fraction 1
Inert Mass Fraction 2
LOX/LH2
176,500
1,636
178,200
191,600
$343,800
0.07
0.09
H2O2/RP-1
356,900
2,250
359,100
366,500
$3,351,000
0.02
0.03
LOX/HTPB
320,900
2,136
323,000
330,000
$1,313,000
HTPB/AP
/AL
243,200
2,314
245,500
250,500
$1,227,000
Delta_v = 18 km/s Code by : Nicole Wilcox and Stephen Bluestone
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Propulsion

3. Three Stage – 5 kg Payload
Prop Mass Stage 1 (kg)
Prop Mass Stage 2 (kg)
Prop Mass Stage 3 (kg)
Total Prop Mass (kg)
Total Mass (kg)
Total Cost ($)
Inert Mass Fraction All Stages
LOX/LH2
13300
6202
319
19800
21,490
$38,280.00
0.07
0.09
0.1
H2O2/RP-1
366200
97974
1441
465600
490100
$4,345,000.00
0.05
LOX/HTPB
33100
89221
1376
421600
443800
$1,714,000.00
HTPB/AP/AL
860700
218200
2156
$5,405,000.00
Future Work
Delta V = 18 km/s Code by : Nicole Wilcox and Stephen Bluestone
Add handling costs to code.
Work on perfecting code optimization.
Update numbers on the web site.
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Propulsion

4. Equations Space Propulsion Analysis and Design Propulsion
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Propulsion

5. Find the Tables on :

6. One Stage

7. Two Stage

8. Three Stage

9. Resources
Humble, R. W., Henry, G. N., Larson, W. J., Space Propulsion Analysis and Design, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1995.
Sutton, George P., Biblarz, Oscar “Solid Propellants,” Rocket Propulsion Elements, 7th ed., Wiley, New York, 2001.
Ventura, M., “The Lowest Cost Rocket Propulsion System,” General Kinetics Inc, Huntington Beach, CA, Jul
AAE 450 Spring 2008