DrEAM Status Approaching Aeroshell Integration

NASA Ames and Langley are partnering with DLR to deliver a comprehensive instrumentation suite known as the Dragonfly Entry Aerosciences Measurements (DrEAM). DrEAM will provide key aerothermodynamic data and performance analysis for Dragonfly’s forebody and backshell Thermal Protection System (TPS), enabled by a DLR-provided Data Acquisition System(DAS).Titan’s atmosphere predominantly consists of nitrogen (~98% by mole) with small amounts of methane(~2% by mole). CN is a strong radiator and is found in nonequilibrium concentrations for Titan entry, the modeling of which has proven to be a difficult task. Prompted by the Huygens mission, many experimental campaigns and analyses were per-formed to better understand the aerothermal environments experienced by the probe during Titan entry. However, the Huygens probe carried no heatshield instrumentation. Therefore, the DrEAM instrumentation suite will significantly advance the state-of-the-art not only by documenting the environment and performance of Dragonfly’s entry system but also by making measurements from which the me-thane abundance, winds and density of Titan’s mesosphere can be inferred.