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LOFTID (Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator) PASS (Payload Adapter Separation System) Design & QualificationOn November 10, 2022, NASA, in partnership with United Launch Alliance (ULA), launched Low-earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) as a secondary payload on an Atlas V Centaur out of the Vandenburg Space Force Base (VSFB). After successfully delivering the primary payload, Joint Polar Satellite System-2 (JPSS-2), to a sun synchronous trajectory, the Centaur upper stage reoriented LOFTID onto the desired reentry trajectory. After conducting a de-orbit burn to enter the atmosphere the Payload Adaptor was ejected to expose the packed LOFTID vehicle. The LOFTID Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) was deployed and inflated. The Centaur pointed LOFTID to the desired entry attitude and spun the vehicle up to roughly three rpm before separating the reentry vehicle over the Middle East. The LOFTID vehicle flew freely before reentering the atmosphere over Alaska at >8km/sec and decelerating as designed. LOFTID demonstrated stable flight from hypersonic entry through subsonic parachute deployment. LOFTID was enabled by a mission-unique Payload Adapter Separation System (PASS) which separated the Payload Adapter prior to the start of the LOFTID flight demonstration, allowing the launch vehicle to accommodate a superstack of two independent, similarly sized payloads. This paper will discuss the design, development, and qualification effort of the LOFTID PASS.
Document ID
20230017568
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sean M Hancock
(Science and Technology Corporation (United States) Hampton, Virginia, United States)
Jacob P Montgomery
(Science and Technology Corporation (United States) Hampton, Virginia, United States)
Joe A Del Corso
(Langley Research Center Hampton, United States)
Ben J Nickless
(Langley Research Center Hampton, United States)
Matt B. Realsen
(United Launch Alliance Centennial, Colorado, United States)
Date Acquired
December 2, 2023
Subject Category
Space Transportation and Safety
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2024 AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (AIAA SciTech Forum)
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: US
Start Date: January 8, 2024
End Date: January 12, 2024
Sponsors: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 321991.01.23.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Portions of document may include copyright protected material.
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