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Analytical Hierarchy Process-based trade-off analysis of green and hybrid propulsion technologies for upper stage applications

par Sarritzu, Alberto;Blondel-Canepari, Lily;Gelain, Riccardo ;Hendrick, Patrick ;Pasini, Angelo
Référence International Journal of Energetic Materials and Chemical Propulsion
Publication Publié, 2023-08-01

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

As an emerging trend, Green Propulsion has been exponentially growing over the last decades in the space sector. This paper assesses different technologies in a trade-off study weighting their applicability to a specific class of upper stage systems currently developed by many companies and often referred to as kick-stages or orbital stages. In a generic two-stage-to-orbit scenario, many launchers require a system able to go the ‘extra mile’ to deliver one or multiple payloads on orbit(s). That is where the kick stage comes into playing a crucial role. The trade-off study reported here is based on a well-known decision-making tool, the Analytical Hierarchy Process, and is divided into two parts: low-thrust class engines such as monopropellants, including pre-mixed blends, usually employed for attitude and reaction control; and high-thrust engines such as hypergolic bi-propellants combinations used for apogee manoeuvres. Hybrid thrusters are also considered in the analysis with a dedicated parallel trade-off.