Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM
Monday, May 21, 2012 / 3:30 PM, Building 3 Auditorium
Kris Romig
"Green Propulsion"
ABSTRACT -- Hydrazine and hydrazine derivatives have been the mainstay for US in-space chemical propulsion for nearly 50 years. While highly reliable, these propellants are toxic to humans and require special handling; which increases health risks and operational costs to nearly all human and robotic space missions. Efforts to replace these propellants with higher performing and lesser toxic alternatives have been underway nearly as long as hydrazine has been in use as a propellant. However it is only within the last few years that non-toxic chemical propellant combinations coupled with fully functional thruster hardware have sufficiently matured to a point where they can been viewed as viable options to replace traditional hydrazine based systems.
This engineering colloquium presentation will discuss non-toxic chemical propulsion technologies, introduce several higher TRL alternatives, and begin the discussion of how these may be used in future GSFC missions.
SPEAKER -- Kris Romig has recently joined code 592, the Systems Engineering Services and Advanced Concepts Branch as an Associate Branch Head. Prior to this position Mr. Romig was on detail in the Innovative Partnerships Program Office (code 504) as a Technology Manager where he helped to coordinate GSFC's strategic plans for recent green propulsion activities at the center. Before starting this detail in the IPP Office Kris worked as a propulsion engineer in the Propulsion Branch (code 597) supporting the development of both in house and out of house propulsion systems. Prior to joining the GSFC family Kris spent a year at NASA Headquarters as the Deputy Chief Engineer for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in the Office of Chief Engineer. He also spent over 9 years working as a propulsion engineer and project manager at the Johnson Space Center where he supported the Space Shuttle Program and helped to develop various cryogenic propulsion component and system level technologies for future exploration missions.
Kris has received a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, an MS in Space Architecture from the University of Houston, and an MS in Systems Architecture & Engineering from the University of Southern California.