1. Ricky Hinton January 24th, 2008 Propulsion Group Preliminary Analysis of Purdue Test Facilities at Zucrow Laboratories
AAE 450 Spring 2008

2. Test Facilities (Purdue Zucrow Laboratories)
High Pressure Rocket Laboratories
Nitrogen system provides 5,000 psi (34,474 kPa) chamber pressure
Up to 10,000 lbf (44,482 N) Thrust stand capabilities
Propellants/ Oxidizers currently tested: H2O2, Liquid Hydrocarbon, LOX
Mass flow rate up to 15 lb/s (6.8 kg/s) maximum.
Max thrust stand capabilities and common T/W ratios to find sizing if we were to use Zucrow for testing
T/W
Facility Test Stand
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.7
2.0
Mass (kg)
(8,000 lb thrust)
3023.9
2791.3
2591.9
2419.1
2015.9
1814.3
(10,000 lb thrust)
3779.9
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Propulsion Group

3. Cost Analysis of using Zucrow
Points to consider
Possible facility development costs: Fuel /Ox injection system
Construction of the actual test engine
“People hours” associated with running the tests
Cost of materials: propellants, oxidizers, nitrogen
Handling costs for fuels (toxic)
Future Work
Working with Professor Anderson to obtain a much more detailed cost analysis associated with using the Zucrow facilities.
With new group run codes with final prop/traj/struct code
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Group Name (i.e.Trajectory Optimization)

4. References
Klaurans, B. “The Vanguard Satellite Launching Vehicle” The Martin Company. No April 1964
Propulsion Test Facilities at the Purdue university Maurice J Zucrow Laboratories. Pourpoint, Meyer, Ehresman
Renovated Rocket Lab At Purdue Is National Resource. Space Daily, June 26,
AAE 450 Spring 2008

5. Backup Slides Atlas IIA has T/W = 1.2
Vanguard final design T/W as low as 1.2 from specs on pg 170.
Thrust = 28,000 lb, GLOW = 22,823 lb
T/W =28,000 lb / 22,823 lb = 1.227
Before that Viking launch vehicle had takeoff T/W = 1.34
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Group Name (i.e.Trajectory Optimization)

6. Excel spreadsheet for T/W ratios and sizing numbers
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9 2
Weight (8,000 lb)
8000
6667
6154
5714
5333
5000
4706
4444
4211
4000
mass kg
3024
2791
2592
2419
2268
2135
2016
1910
1814
Weight (10,000 lb)
10000
8333
7692
7143
6250
5882
5556
5263
3780
AAE 450 Spring 2008