Ditching investigation of a 1/20-scale model of the space shuttle orbiter

The ditching characteristics of the space shuttle orbiter were examined. Tests were made with a 1/20-scale model in order to determine behavior patterns and accelerations imparted to the ditching vehicle. Ditchings were made with different configurations of weight and gear position. Also the effects of different water surface conditions were investigated. The test results indicated that the favorable conditions for ditching usually involve a landing attitude of 12 deg. Smooth ditchings were always associated with the landing-gear retracted and never with the landing-gear extended. Higher landing mass, generally, resulted in higher acceleration values in both the longitudinal and normal directions. Surface waves tend to increase the pitch accelerations but at the same time tend to reduce the accelerations in the longitudinal and normal directions.