Sherpa-LTC

Sherpa-LTC 1 [Spaceflight Inc.]

The Sherpa-LTC, developed by Spaceflight Inc., is a free flying satellite deployer featuring chemical propulsion.

Sherpa-LTC builds upon Sherpa-AC with the addition of a nontoxic storable propulsion system. Sherpa-LTC features a highthrust, bi-propellant, green propulsion subsystem integrated seamlessly within the available space of the original free flyer. By including its own high-thrust propulsion, Sherpa-LTC provides a low cost, rapid orbital transfer for many sizes of small spacecraft. Designed with launch vehicle flexibility as a requirement, SherpaLTC is compatible with most launch vehicles with which Spaceflight currently works.

The Sherpa chemical propulsion system utilizes the Polaris propulsion system from Benchmark Space Systems with green propellants. High Test Peroxide (HTP) is the oxidizer and Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) is the fuel. These propellants are pressure-fed, using gaseous nitrogen as the pressurant. Polaris is a dual-mode bipropellant system with four independently controlled thrusters. HTP can be used as a monopropellant in a low-thrust mode or combined with IPA in high-thrust mode. Each thruster can provide up to 22 N of thrust individually; when operated together, all four thrusters provide up to 88 N of thrust. With the ability to command the thrusters independently, Sherpa can steer without the need of a gimbal.