Research on High Pressure Cryogenic Combustion

Kurzfassung

Due to their high specific impulse, Oxygen/Hydrogen systems are often used to increase launcher performance and will probably continue to be preferred option for the next decades. In order to get insight into complex processes involved in the combustion of such propellants, research efforts have been conducted in both France and Germany including theoretical and experimental activities. This article deals with recent progress achived by research teams from both countries in high pressure Oxygen/Hydrogen (O2/H2) combustion systems. In France, the research program was conducted in the framework of the GDR goup including Snecma Moteurs-Rocket Engine Division, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and ONERA. In Germany, research was conducted in the framework of the national technology program TEKAN involving universities, DLR and Astrium. A close cooperation between teams was made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on research on high pressure cryogaenic combustion.