Factors Affecting the Design of Minimum Weight Launch Vehicle Stages

Weight trade-offs between the tankage, the pressurization system, and the trapped propellant of typical large booster stages are considered for LOX/RP-1 and LOX/LH propellant combinations. Pressurization systems Considered are oxygen and helium for LOX, nitrogen and helium for RP-1, and hydrogen and helium for LH. The effects of burn-out pressure, pump inlet pressure, feed-line velocity, and type of pressurization gas on the minimum weight tank system for each propellant are presented. The effect of tank wall temperature on the LH tank system weight is shown.