Private Rocket to Orbit Tiny Objects

The PROTO Project is the current primary objective of the ERPS, a vehicle capable of placing a small payload into Low Earth Orbit in a single stage. The culmination of the various technology demonstration projects that preceed it, PROTO will demonstrate private development of advanced space lift capability on limited budgets. The lessons learned in the design development fabrication and testing of the vehicle will be applicable to a wide range of advanced projects and vehicles under consideration.

While the current vehicle design is in the transition for spreadsheet and hand drawing to CAD stage, some preliminary versions of the electronic files are available. At left is the tankage arrangement detailing the single Kerosene (Jet-A) tank positioned above the four equal oxidizer (98% H₂O₂) tanks. The central space between them will contain the fuel feed line and the thrust support structure.
Feed lines from the four peroxide tanks will run to four catalyst packs positioned around the head of the single 5000 lb thrust engine.
The fuel feed line will attach to the top of the engine support structure that holds the catalyst packs, the mix chamber (where the fuel lines will feed) and the expansion nozzle. Exhaust will be focused aft through the exhaust nozzle.
The tanks will be supported by the thrust structure both above and below the peroxide tanks. The external shell will be attached to the frame, which will hold the thrust structure and tanks, the pressurization tanks (not shown) and the avionics (also not shown). The latter two will be located in the space above the four peroxide tanks, between the fuel tank and the upper shell.
The upper shell will form a 4 sided pyramid connecting the square Lower Shell and frame to the tip, located above the fuel tank. The space above that tank will be used for the payload. The panels of the Upper Shell are retractable for servicing on the ground and payload deployment on orbit.