An investigation of ablation-induced roll torques on reentry vehicles
Abstract
The results of a reentry vehicle flight test program to evaluate the roll-producing effect of an ablating tape-wrapped carbon phenolic (TWCP) heat shield are presented. Included is a description of the thermal shield construction, which reveals the presence of small aerodynamic surfaces. Exposed by the ablation process during severe reentry environment, these surfaces are capable of producing significant rolling moments. Instrumentation onboard the flight vehicle, designed to evaluate the aerodynamic and thermal response, indicated that the desired flight environment was achieved and that there was sufficient ablation to generate roll torque. A discussion of theoretical methods to predict the rolling moment coefficients is presented, as well as a comparison of the predicted coefficients with flight data. The vehicle was recovered intact, and the postflight inspection is described.
- Publication:
-
In: Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference
- Pub Date:
- 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976atfm.conf..160K
- Keywords:
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- Ablation;
- Heat Shielding;
- Performance Prediction;
- Reentry Vehicles;
- Rolling Moments;
- Aerodynamic Characteristics;
- Aerodynamic Drag;
- Flight Tests;
- Pitching Moments;
- Postflight Analysis;
- Static Stability;
- Time Dependence;
- Astrodynamics