Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) + Acetylene (C₂H₂) Rocket Fuel

On NASA research paper nitrous oxide (N₂O) / propane (C₃H₈) (NOP) / acetylene (C₂H₂) (NOA) rocket engines are analyzed. (https://tfaws.nasa.gov/TFAWS06/Proceedings/Aerothermal-Propulsion/Papers/TFAWS06-1026_Paper_Herdy.pdf) Here are some remarks from the paper:

Most propellants commonly used today have relatively low vapor pressure (lower than the rocket chamber pressure) and consequently have to be pressurized. This is accomplished in one of several ways. Turbo pumps are used for launch vehicle applications. The pumps are driven using onboard propellant and form part of the thermodynamic cycle for the system. For space applications, expulsion systems are used to pressurize the propellant and drive it out of the propellant system. Expulsion systems use high pressure gas (either helium or nitrogen) to pressurize the liquid propellant. 

In contrast to these systems the NOP/NOA propellants are self-pressurizing due to their relatively high vapor pressures (higher than the rocket chamber pressure). Consequently, they do not require separate expulsion systems and the entire tank volume can be used to store propellant. The vapor pressure of nitrous oxide is approximately 750 psi and that of propane is 125 psia at ambient temperature.

The non-toxic nature of the NOP/NOA propellants will serve to reduce operating costs due to the handling issues associated with the hypergolic propellants currently in use for space applications. The NOP/NOA propellants are benign and not highly reactive. They remain so until the nitrous oxide is catalytically decomposed and combined with the fuel. Exhaust products consist mainly of nitrogen, water, and carbon dioxide. The NOP/NOA propellants are storable over long periods of time without degradation. Inadvertent decomposition is one of the main technical obstacles for hydrogen peroxide use in space propulsion systems. 

Environmentally Friendly Rocket Engine Test Facility

Rocket engine design requires many tests. During these tests, the rocket engine releases fast and hot exhaust gases. I propose the recovery of some of the energy released using a steam turbine. Steam turbines can withstand hot and fast gasses and are quite efficient in electric generation. The end of the turbine can be connected to a steam condenser where part of the exhaust gases (water vapor) can be recovered. Some of the electric generated can be used to clean out the exhaust pollutants, the rest would be consumed within the facility.

Modular Adventure Camera

I like photography and used pocket camera, DSLR, action Cam and underwater camera. However, they all have many flows in their design. I propose a modular adventure cam. It is designed for worst case scenarios and utilize quality mechanical connectors. The quality connectors allow compact attachment points. For example, to attain same strength as a titanium attachment point you need to increase a plastic parts thickness which makes such modular designs bulky. A camera consists of many parts and these parts do not have the same life cycle. Therefore, the modularity makes the platform more environmentally friendly and increased cost due to high quality materials can be less expensive in the long run. Here are some of the features:

- All mechanical attachment points of a module should be titanium or similar material (due to durability and light weight). The rest of the module can utilize other materials.

- The modules should be self-protective. For example, the display should have built in tempered glass on it. The lenses also should have a built-in protective glass on their front which is taken into consideration during their optical design. All modules of the Adventure Camera should be Adventure proof (unlike the delicate designs of action cams). The display would not be touch enabled. A special touch sensor can be added later which would work with any glow and underwater!

- Energy transfer between modules will be wireless. (I had even designed such systems using SMD inductors. The cross section of the transfer area is around 1sq cm). This eliminates the risk of oxidation or short circuiting of power contacts. This would increase the power consumption which is OK with an Adventure Camera. When a module is detected the wireless power transfer would be started. The wireless power contact area will be sealed with rubber so that once the modules are assembled there should be no air gab in between. This design allows battery swapping underwater, rainy and snowy environments.

- The data transfer among modules will also be wireless. It can be a light-based communication or short distance concentrated area rf based. The reason is the same as the power connectors.

- The camera control buttons should be mechanical and separate from the sensor and the lens. It would be like a wired remote control. This allows the camera sensor and the lens to be mounted on an extension rod or a helmet and the user can control everything with an appropriate remote.

- Depending on the use, the control (buttons) module would have large buttons to allow gloved controlling. Additionally, there would be specialized controllers for disabled people with injured or no hands. They can be controlled using eye movements, brain waves, with mouth and teeth...

- There would be different types of batteries with different chemical designs. For example, temperature independent ones that are less effected with cold or heat. The batteries can be attached using a wire extender. This allows the batteries to be placed in a back pack to reduce the weight on hand or a stabilized gimble.

- Any extension cord separating the modules should be made of fire proof tough skins. I had seen such cable skins in military communication wires.

Lunar Plasma Transporter

We can start building a Lunar Base now. Current spaceships are capable of achieving this goal. I propose we deploy a Lunar Plasma Transporter (LPT) in LEO. It can be assembled in space in 4 sections: 

1. Plasma Thrusters and solar panels (also the controller), 

2. Fuel reserve (can be split into two sections), 

3. Lunar Plasma Ascender / Descender (LPAD)

4. Lunar payload

The LPT will utilize plasma thrusters. The fuel can be any gas (CO₂ can be used to clean our skies) and will be powered by solar panels. Much higher specific impulse than the liquid rockets, no need for an oxidizer. Even oxygen generated from oxidized metals on the lunar soil can be used to power the rocket. 

Once the LPT is fully assembled in LEO, it would increase its speed using its plasma thrusters and the Suns energy. As the speed increases LPT's distance from Earth would increase and at critical point trans-lunar injection would be triggered. Once the LPT reaches the Moon, it would start orbiting the Moon. It would than release the LPAD, which would safely descent the lunar payload on the Moon's surface. The initial payloads should contain setup to extract gas (can be oxygen or another gas) from the Lunar surface.

The LPT after deploying the LPAD would return Earth. Once LPT is close to the Earth, it would use its plasma thrusters to slow it down to LEO orbiting speed. Then the LPT is refueled in orbit and a new Lunar payload is assembled. The gas generation setup on the moon may require many payloads to be deployed. Therefore, LPAD may need to be refueled by the Lunar Plasma Transporter when it ascents from the lunar surface to retrieve the payload. Once the lunar gas generation is active it would refuel the LPAD on the Moon.

Low-Bypass Solid Boosters For Reusable First Stage

I had previously wrote about my idea to have bypass canals around the solid boosters too improve on the specific impulse. (Low-Bypass Solid Rocket Booster) The idea can be combined with the modular rocket design I had proposed. (Modular Hybrid Reusable Rocket) The solid boosters of the first stage can have the bypass canals around them. The first stage of the rocket would climb up to 70km altitude and that is where the atmosphere would contribute positive to the thrust of the boosters. In later stages this approach would not work. The solid boosters slick design improves on the feasibility compared to liquid rockets. Different bypass ratios can be tested for optimal efficiency. The larger diameter of the first stage due to bypass canals may or may not positively help the descent of the reusable first stage. It has to be taken into consideration as well.

The Laws of Swarm Construction Robots

The Three Laws of Robotics are a set of rules devised by science fiction author Isaac Asimov.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

I add the following technical ones for the construction robots I keep emphasizing.

- They should collaborate with each other, swarm.

- The robot should be modular. Depending on the task they can have wheels on or legs.

- The robot should be able to replace its modules itself. Therefore, connectors should be special not hundred screws to mount a part.

- The moving parts should be minimal and should be less affected by sand storms, lunar dust.

- The robot should be weather sealed from snow, water, cold and hot. Specialized versions should be water resistant up to certain depths.

- They should be constructed from light and durable materials and they should fit inside a half container. The robots should be easily transportable via land, water, air and space.

- They should be powered by renewable energy sources. No gasoline or coal.

- They should not reproduce themselves without human approval.

Wind Farm Construction Using VTOL Bases

Electric generation from wind becomes more efficient as we increase the tower dimensions. However, it is expensive and very difficult to transport heavy and large blades and tower parts from the factory to the target area. I propose the building of VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) Drone bases. The base will be a vertical wind turbine at the bottom and a VTOL nest at the top. Heavy lift VTOLs charge their batteries on these bases and reach the destination with their wind turbine payload. This setup can also be used to transport heavy construction equipment around the country. Additionally, they can be utilized in case of natural disasters, carrying necessary equipment to the affected area in short time. They can even extinguish fires using water or dry ice they carry. Depending on the battery technology the bases can be erected every 50 or 100 km.