Low-temperature ablator tests for shape stable nosetip applications on maneuvering reentry vehicles

A series of low-temperature ablator (LTA) tests, designed to assess the applicability of the Shape Stable Nosetip (SSN) core concept to maneuvering reentry vehicles (MaRV's), were performed at Mach 5 in Tunnel 8 at the Naval Surface Weapons Center (NSWC), White Oak Laboratory. The objectives of this test series were to acquire fundamental shape change phenomenology data on cored nosetips in variable angle of attack and variable freestream environments, and to compare five candidate SSN core designs for MaRV applications. Force and moment data, as well as photographic (shape) data were obtained. The LTA test results, data analysis, and conclusions are presented. Overall, for the conditions tested the circular core concept provides a more symmetric shape history and lower lateral loads than either the uncored nosetip or the noncircular cored nosetips that were tested.