Hyper-X Stage Separation: Simulation Development and Results

This paper provides an overview of stage separation simulation development and results for NASA's Hyper-X program; a focused hypersonic technology effort designed to move hypersonic, airbreathing vehicle technology from the laboratory environment to the flight environment. This paper presents an account of the development of the current 14 degree of freedom stage separation simulation tool (SepSim) and results from use of the tool in a Monte Carlo analysis to evaluate the risk of failure for the separation event. Results from use of the tool show that there is only a very small risk of failure in the separation event.