High-pressure cryogenic hydrogen storage system for a Mars sample return mission

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High-pressure cryogenic hydrogen storage system for a Mars sample return mission

Mueller, P.J. / Batty, J.C. / Zubrin, R.M.

One method to reduce the cost of space missions is to launch them on smaller, less expensive launch vehicles. This requires smaller and lighter spacecraft. For a Mars sample return mission concept under consideration, the method to achieve this is to use indigenous Martian carbon dioxide, combined with hydrogen brought from Earth, to generate oxygen and methane propellant for the return trip to Earth. This eliminates the need to bring propellant for the return trip all the way to Mars, resulting in a lighter spacecraft at Earth launch. It also requires a system that can store cryogenic hydrogen for the 6to 8-month trip to Mars and arrive with a sufficient quantity to produce the oxygen and methane propellants while on the surface of Mars. An earlier paper examined the hydrogen storage problem with a system limited to a maximum tank pressure of 697 kPa (101 psia). This paper uses the results from a computer simulation program to examine the feasibility of allowing the pressure in the tanks to reach maximum pressures from 3.4 to 13.8 MPa (500 to 2000 psia)