Description: KTE's proposed innovation is the LOx/Methane Pintle Propulsion Engine or (LMPPE), which can offer higher reliability, lower cost and higher performance than conventional impinging injector-based combustion devices for in space propulsion systems. The concept can be used in both pump and pressure-fed engine architectures. The LMPPE builds upon the Catalytically Initiated Combustor (CIC) igniter technology previously demonstrated to a high TRL coupled with a low cost pintle main injector that has potential to provide a path for a LOx/Methane upper stage engine that is dynamically stable offering high performance with a wide throttle capability over a range of propellant inlet conditions. The CIC based pintle propulsion engine also offers attractive packaging advantages and improved reliability and operability while reducing development costs and risks for upper-stage engines. The pintle propulsion approach requires looser tolerances of the components and can be successfully fabricated from a number of additive manufacturing approaches. This multi-functional capability will further reduce cost and improve reliability in launch or in-space vehicles by increasing component production rates and reducing part count. The focus of the proposed effort is to prove the feasibility of this novel oxygen/methane pintle engine. The in-space engine can be designed to operate at lower chamber pressures, lending itself to the use of composite and additive manufactured components. The design offers an inherent combustion stability allowing simpler combustion chamber designs and ease of fabrication due to the omission of complex acoustic damping devices. Therefore, an expensive development programs can be avoided due to the very low risk of combustion instability.

Benefits: The engine has the potential to be utilized with an efficiently optimized nozzle in a planetary ascent/descent pressure-fed system with a vacuum specific impulse of up to 360 sec with throttling capability for future exploration of Mars. The proposed program addresses the need to support investments on key technologies and design concepts that may transform the path for future exploration of Mars or other near earth objects. Additionally the LMPPE can be used on KTE's Radially Segmented Launch Vehicle (RSLV) family of earth-to-orbit launch vehicles that will provide transportation for NASA payloads ranging from nano-sats to Delta II class planetary missions.

The proposed program is an enabler to the Radially Segmented Launch Vehicle (RSLV) system currently under development by KT Engineering. KTE has been developing an integrated earth-to-orbit space transportation system, ground infrastructure, and a business concept that challenge aerospace paradigms regarding vehicle design, hardware fabrication, and operations. Several US Government customers, including the US Air Force, US Army, DARPA, and other DOD agencies have, along with NASA, invested over $20M to develop the RSLV to support a wide range of payloads, from nano-sat size to Delta II and EELV-class missions.