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Retro Rocket Motor Self-Penetrating Scheme for Heat Shield Exhaust PortsA preliminary scheme was developed for base-mounted solid-propellant retro rocket motors to self-penetrate the Orion Crew Module heat shield for configurations with the heat shield retained during landings on Earth. In this system the motors propel impactors into structural push plates, which in turn push through the heat shield ablator material. The push plates are sized such that the remaining port in the ablator material is large enough to provide adequate flow area for the motor exhaust plume. The push plate thickness is sized to assure structural integrity behind the ablative thermal protection material. The concept feasibility was demonstrated and the performance was characterized using a gas gun to launch representative impactors into heat shield targets with push plates. The tests were conducted using targets equipped with Fiberform(R) and PICA as the heat shield ablator material layer. The PICA penetration event times were estimated to be under 30 ms from the start of motor ignition. The mass of the system (not including motors) was estimated to be less than 2.3 kg (5 lbs) per motor. The configuration and demonstrations are discussed.
Document ID
20150014689
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Marrese-Reading, Colleen
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
St.Vaughn, Josh
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Zell, Peter
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Hamm, Ken
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Corliss, Jim
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Gayle, Steve
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Pain, Rob
(ATK Tactical Systems Co., LLC Elkton, MD, United States)
Rooney, Dan
(ATK Tactical Systems Co., LLC Elkton, MD, United States)
Ramos, Amadi
(ATK Tactical Systems Co., LLC Elkton, MD, United States)
Lewis, Doug
(ATK Tactical Systems Co., LLC Elkton, MD, United States)
Shepherd, Joe
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Inaba, Kazuaki
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 3, 2015
Publication Date
March 7, 2009
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Launch Operations
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 7, 2009
End Date: March 14, 2009
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
landing system

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