NASA/Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135

A -- NASA RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT (NRA-98-LERC-2)- ABLV RBCC PROPULSION SYSTEM MATERIALS, STRUCTURES, AND INTEGRATED THERMAL MANAGEMENT SOL NRA-98-LERC-2 POC Gloria J. Rhyner, Contract Specialist, Phone (216) 433-2794, Fax (216) 433-5489, Email Gloria.J.Rhyner@lerc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/LeRC/date.html#NRA-98-LERC-2. E-MAIL: Gloria J. Rhyner, Gloria.J.Rhyner@lerc.nasa.gov. Background: The Hypersonics Project Office at NASA's Lewis Research is developing air-breathing propulsion technology for access to space. Studies have shown air-breathing propulsion s potential for enabling reduced launch costs. Verifying this potential will require the development of technologies to build a flight-weight air-breathing launch vehicle, especially the propulsion system. Lewis Research Center has identified Rocket-Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) propulsion as the most promising propulsion technology for an early demonstration of a single-stage-to-orbit air-breathing launch vehicle (ABLV). As a next step toward developing this technology, NASA wants to experimentally demonstrate light weight, actively and passively cooled structural concepts and strategies for their integration of into a propulsion system. Balancing propulsion aerothermodynamic design, and overall engine power balance is also of primary interest. NASA LeRC anticipates issuing a draft NASA Research Announcement for Industry comment on or around July 31, 1998. Scope: Proposals should include a concise plan that describes how light weight materials and structures technologies for propulsion system actively and passively cooled structures, including flowpath walls/leading edges and flow management structures, rocket plume impingement areas, rocket element support structures, and fuel injection structures will be applied to the representative Trailblazer RBCC ABLV concept. An overall propulsion system architecture should be developed that balances: 1) use of lightweight/high temperature materials 2) active and passive cooling strategies 3) propulsion system aerothermodynamic design that minimizes hot spots 4) engine cycle design (power balance) The objective of this design strategy should be to optimize the above factors to reduce development and operational cost of the propulsion system and integrated launch vehicle. For this NRA, performance in terms of equivalent effective Isp (I*) and dry weight are subject to the overall objectives of reduced cost and enabling an early integrated propulsion/vehicle flight demonstration. Analysis or design experience from ground or flight demonstration should be proposed to be furnished as validation of design strategy effectiveness at balancing the above factors and reducing costs. Relevant experiments that demonstrate the effectiveness of a particular material choice, active or passive cooling methodology, and/or integrated engine system structural/thermal/power balance design strategy may be proposed. Related to the above, this NRA solicits the development of analysis tools that advance the capability to optimize thermal management of ABLV RBCC propulsion systems. Finally, concepts for annular plug nozzle rocket technology applied to ABLV RBCC propulsion systems, using the representative Trailblazer RBCC ABLV concept as an example, are solicited. Proposals will be evaluated based on: 1) technical merit, 2) knowledge of materials and structures for air-breathing propulsion for launch vehicle applications (relative experience), 3) potential to contribute to NASA s aeronautics pillar three goal for reduced costs for access to space, 4) level of cost sharing, 5) participation of Small Disadvantaged Businesses, and 6) ability to communicate and manage technical programs (past performance). The duration of a resulting contract(s) will be eighteen months starting in FY99 (October, 1998). NASA anticipates having a total of $2.5M available for this work ($1.5M in FY99, and $1M in FY00). For technical questions about this NRA, please contact Don Palac by phone at (216) 977-7094 or by e-mail at D.Palac@lerc.nasa.gov. Offerors may propose the use of government facilities, but the cost of using the facilities should be included as a part of the proposal. For information regarding government facility availability and cost, please contact Doug Perkins by phone at (216) 977-7414 or by e-mail at Hugh.D.Perkins@Lerc.Nasa.Gov. For contractual or business questions, please contact Gloria Rhyner by phone at (216) 433-2794 or by e-mail at Gloria.Rhyner@lerc.nasa.gov. Multiple awards will be considered. Point of Contact Name: Gloria J. Rhyner Title: Contracting Officer Phone: (216) 433-2794 Fax: (216) 433-5489 E-mail: Gloria.Rhyner @lerc.nasa.gov Posted 07/15/98 (D-SN223884). (0196)

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