Propulsion Research for Rocket SSTOs at NAL/KRC

The Kakuda Research Center of the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL/KRC) has historically contributed to the R&D of Japanese launch vehicles, especially with respect to propulsion. Technical research for reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) has been started, specially focusing on the components of reusable rocket engines and light-weight tank at KRC. Two kinds of high performance nozzles, extendible nozzle and aerospike one, and high performance turbopumps have been studied. A long-life combustor and bearings were tested. Light-weight tank material and light-weight nozzle-material were fabricated and under testing in the subscaled model level. The results of these technical studies are expected to be utilized in the concept study of RLVs and the development of an operational RLV. * Head, Senior Member, AIAA, **Head, Non-member, AIAA ***Director, Member, AIAA, +Senior Engineer, Non-member, AIAA, * Senior Engineer, Member, AIAA, Copyright