Pressure Vessels

Composite Pressure Vessels

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has extensive experience in the design, development, qualification and integration of high-performance lightweight composite pressure vessels for aircraft, satellite, launch vehicle and missile platforms.

Applications include military and commercial aircraft flotation and emergency power; missile control; launch vehicle and satellite propulsion subsystems.

Our composite pressure vessels combine a permeation barrier (liner) with a filament-wound outer shell. The liners are made from a wide variety of materials depending on customer requirements in order to optimize the design while maintaining cost objectives. The pressure vessels range in size and shape to suit a wide variety of customer needs.

Platforms:

Aircraft COPVs: Lincoln Operations is the design authority for multiple Aircraft Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels provide compressed gas to be used in flotation and emergency power systems.

Orion: Orion is NASA’s crewed deep space spacecraft. Lincoln Operations is the design authority for both of the Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels. This includes the Helium Pressurant Tank that provides compressed gas to be used in spacecraft subsystems, as well as the Oxygen Pressurant Tank that provides compressed oxygen to the crew members.

Satellite COPVS: Lincoln Operations is the design authority for multiple Satellite Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels provide compressed gas to be used in satellite propulsion subsystems

Space Launch System (SLS): NASA’s newest space launch vehicle. After its initial launch in November 2022, SLS became the largest launch vehicle in NASA history. Lincoln Operations is the design authority for both the Core Stage Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel and the Upper Stage Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel. Both configurations provide compressed gas to be used in launch vehicle subsystems.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip Family Forward Pressurant Tank (FPT) & Main Oxidizer Tank (MOT): Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip family of spaceplanes offer commercial rides to space. Lincoln Operations is the design authority for the both the Forward Pressurant Tank, which sits in the nose of the spaceship, and the original design authority for the Main Oxidizer Tank, which fills the center fuselage of the spaceship.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV): Lincoln Operations is the design authority for the THAAD COPV, which stores and provides compressed gas for attitude control.