Title

Investigating Various Propulsion Systems for an External Attachment for a Controlled-Manual De-orbit of the Hubble Space Telescope

Author(s) Information

Nelson de Guia, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow

College - Author 1

College of Engineering

Department - Author 1

Aerospace Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Aerospace Engineering

Date

3-2012

Primary Advisor

Kira Abercromby, College of Engineering, Aerospace Engineering Department

Abstract/Summary

This reports explains the results for a proposed senior project. This project concerns the Hubble Space Telescope, and exploring the possibility of having an external propulsion attachment for a manual de-orbit. The Hubble Space Telescope was proposed to return to Earth via the Space Shuttle. Although, through the current U.S. Space Administration, the Space Shuttle has been retired before the Hubble Space Telescope was retrieved. By completing this project, the results could provide insight to what type of propulsion would best de-orbit the Hubble upon its retirement. Different propulsion systems were considered to attempt to determine an optimal attachment, varying different specific impulse values, propulsion burn times, preformed !V, and the direction of the thrust impulse. From the calculated results and after conducting a feasibility analysis, it was concluded that a " 450 seconds Isp propulsion system burning for a maximum of 10 minutes proved to be an optimal choice from the simulated cases.

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/aerosp/63