Hydrogen On-Orbit Storage and Supply Spacecraft Custom Bus Design

The Hydrogen On-Orbit Storage and Supply (HOSS) mission is a proposed technology demonstration of the effects of liquid hydrogen storage and acquisition in microgravity. HOSS would test a liquid acquisition device and thermodynamic vent system (LAD/TVS) for a solar thermal thruster in an orbital environment. Previous cost estimates for a similar technology demonstrator have been estimated at as much as $300 million. Cost is the primary, driving requirement to all facets of this design and strongly influences launch vehicle and bus selection. To successfully implement this experiment, a low-cost spacecraft is proposed with a total expenditure of less than $10 million, including launch and mission operations. The spacecraft is designed using subsystems and structures sufficient to meet unique mission needs. Successful implementation of a "simple is better" philosophy plays a pivotal role in the design and analysis of the spacecraft bus.