Re: Stick/CEV Propulsion News

In article <1128388973.419405.94010@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Ed Kyle <edkyle99@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>One of the listed advantages of liquid methane
>fuel are "long term on-orbit storage". How is
>this possible, given that both the LNG and its
>LOX oxidizer will be at cryogenic temperatures?

Moderately cryogenic temperatures are not that hard to reach in space
using only passive cooling. It's done fairly routinely for things like
sensors. Getting down to LH2 temperatures, on the other hand, is
*seriously* hard without active refrigeration. (There are people who
think it could be done, but I haven't seen anything convincing.)

>It certainly wouldn't be classified as "storable"
>like hydrazine (or even kerosene).

Propellants like this were once known as "space storable" (admittedly a
somewhat loosely-defined term).
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