Air Force Funded Rocket Scientists Gather at Space Propulsion Program Review in Annapolis

  • Published
  • By Erin Crawley
  • AFOSR Public Affairs
ARLINGTON, Va. --  The Air Force Office of Scientific Research here recently completed a program review on space propulsion and power in Annapolis, Md.

About 150 rocket scientists from leading universities and small businesses throughout the nation gathered to share recent results from their AFOSR funded research and to hear about related Air Force initiatives. 

"This event was very successful," said Dr. Mitat Birkan, program manager and conference host. "It is important to provide a forum where the principal investigators we fund can communicate with each other in an effective way. This venue also prompts attendees to ask provocative questions about space propulsion."

Dr. Birkan, who manages the space power and propulsion basic research investment portfolio at AFOSR, explained why continued funding towards this research is so important.

"We have to be able to continue superiority in space. If we don't then someone else will take over."

The keynote address was given by Dr. Mark Lewis, chief scientist of the Air Force. Lewis discussed Air Force initiatives in aerospace technology within the space propulsion arena, specifically high speed hypersonic flight, space access, and space technologies.

Other featured speakers included the honorable Jacques Gansler, vice president of research, University of Maryland; Roger Lipitz, chair in public policy and private enterprise and the former under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics; and Dr. Thomas Russell, director, AFOSR Aerospace and Material Sciences Directorate.

Dr. Russell, who recently joined AFOSR noted, "As I started researching basic research investments in this area, I discovered that Mitat's program is probably the strongest and the largest program in space propulsion and power in the United States. If it were not for Mitat's program, I'm not sure we'd actually have a sustained effort at this point in time across the DoD."

Many of the AFOSR funded scientists at the event are conducting basic research aligned with the Air Force's long-term objectives in aerospace technology. These areas include hypersonics, harnessing energy systems, multifunctional materials, and micro-propulsion. Additionally some scientists also presented futuristic theories.

For example, Dr. Mark Cappelli, a professor at Stanford University, presented, "Towards Reduced Wall-Effect Hall Plasma Accelerators." Dr. Cappelli's team is charged with the task of understanding the way hall thrusters work. A hall thruster is a type of plasma-based propulsion system for space vehicles.

"During my presentation I proposed the question 'what if you could build a propulsion device that was free of any physical surface so that you wouldn't have to worry about the degradation of the surface or engine because there isn't anything there. If you could do that, essentially you'd have a device that has a limitless life," CDr. appelli explained.

Cappelli noted because of the AFOSR funding he has received over the years he is able to take part in this kind of experimental basic research.

"Mitat's program has promoted and encouraged long term vision and long term thinking that has applauded this kind of futuristic thinking," Dr. Cappelli said.

Another AFOSR funded scientist at the event, Dr. Vigor Yang, is doing some very exciting rocket research. Yang's team at the University of Pennsylvania is conducting cutting-edge research in liquid rocket propulsion systems, specifically for chemical rockets. The research focuses on the high pressure combustion phenomenon. This anomaly creates better performance in light weight engines. They use chamber pressure of up to 500 atmospheres, which is much higher than most combustion chamber pressures, said Yang.

Just like Dr. Cappelli, Dr. Yang works on ideas that will be applied many years in the future. Yang says he is confident that his ideas will come to fruition.

Dr. Yang's research could have a huge impact on future trips to space.

"If we can make a rocket engine stable and at the same time improve its performance and reliability, we can substantially reduce the cost for going into space. Let's say 30 years down the road we may be able to reduce the launch cost by a factor of 10. If we could do this we can take routine trips to space," Dr. Yang said.

Many other topics were also presented at the program review. Major subject areas included plume dynamics, chemical propulsion, combustion stability innovations for liquid rocket engines, microchemical propulsion, electric propulsion, hall thrusters, and electrospray propulsion.

Additionally several workshops were conducted to brainstorm new areas of research. Workshop topics included multi-functionality in the design and operation of space propulsion systems, and advances in combustion stability for liquid rocket engines. These workshops are one way in which Dr. Birkan can collect funding ideas for AFOSR's Aerospace and Material Sciences Directorate.

The AFOSR aerospace and material sciences directorate is responsible for research activities in aerospace, engineering, and materials. At present, its program mangers oversee more than 350 basic research projects. The four major projects in the directorate are solid mechanics and structures, structural materials, fluid dynamics, and propulsion.

By supporting events like this space propulsion program review, AFOSR continues to expand the horizon of scientific knowledge through its leadership and management of the Air Force's basic research program. As a vital component of the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFOSR supports Air Force's mission of control and maximum utilization of air and space. Many of the technological breakthroughs enjoyed by millions today, such as lasers, GPS, and the computer mouse trace their scientific roots to research first funded by AFOSR.