Design improvement, qualification testing, purge and vent investigation, fabrication, and documentation of a GAC-9 insulation system

Results of the research and development program to determine the purge and vent characteristics of the GAC-9 insulation system are summarized. The work scope comprised: (1) literature survey; (2) design improvement and insulation effort; (3) testing; and (4) evaluation of test results. Program objectives to be realized are: (1) definition of purge gas flow characteristics of the GAC-9 insulation system through laboratory measurements; and (2) demonstration of insulation effectiveness as a system for prelaunch purging and launch venting of the 76-cm diameter calorimeter, which is a subscale model simulating a realistic type of GAC-9 insulation application.