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Quaoar

Member

Registered: 2013-12-13

Posts: 665

Origami bladders for cryogenic propellant

I found trhis very interesting article about an PET orogami bellow bladder able to hold liquid hydrogen.

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/ancient-a … cket-fuel/

https://hydrogen.wsu.edu/kjell-westra-2/

it may be very useful for cryogenic propellant transfer in microgravity.

Last edited by Quaoar (2022-05-25 15:46:23)

GW Johnson

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From: McGregor, Texas USA

Registered: 2011-12-04

Posts: 5,801

Website

Re: Origami bladders for cryogenic propellant

It will be interesting indeed to see if this could be developed into a piece of technology ready-to-apply. 

GW

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GW Johnson
McGregor,  Texas

"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew,  especially one dead from a bad management decision"

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Origami bladders for cryogenic propellant

This reminds me of a topic in which we tried to work out the dynamics of use for Mars. It was made from basalt fibers and due to it being collapsible a balloon style tank.

Compressed gas balloon rocket for Mars launch

Compressed gas balloon rocket for Lunar launch

Quaoar

Member

Registered: 2013-12-13

Posts: 665

Re: Origami bladders for cryogenic propellant

It will be interesting indeed to see if this could be developed into a piece of technology ready-to-apply. 

GW

It may also be used for a folding inflatable tank: imagine spaceX starship with nuclear rocket: the LH2 tank would be too long for the fuselage, but if the empty tank can be folded inside the fuselage, the starship can perform an aerocapture maneuver in Earth atmosphere at the end of a Mars mission and be refueled and reused.

Last edited by Quaoar (2022-05-27 16:58:48)

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Origami bladders for cryogenic propellant

On-Orbit Propellant Transfer