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At least 145 records · Page 8

Aerodynamic characteristics of the National Launch System (NLS) 1 1/2 stage launch vehicle

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is studying ways of assuring more reliable and cost effective means to space. One launch system studied was the NLS which included the l l/2 stage vehicle. This document encompasses the aerodynamic characteristics of the 1 l/2 stage vehicle. To support the detailed configuration definition two wind tunnel tests were conducted in the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's 14x14-Inch Trisonic Wind Tunnel during 1992. The tests were a static stability and a pressure test, each utilizing 0.004 scale models. The static stability test resulted in the forces and moments acting on the vehicle. The aerodynamics for the reference configuration with and without feedlines and an evaluation of three proposed engine shroud configurations were also determined. The pressure test resulted in pressure distributions over the reference vehicle with and without feedlines including the reference engine shrouds. These pressure distributions were integrated and balanced to the static stability coefficients resulting in distributed aerodynamic loads on the vehicle. The wind tunnel tests covered a Mach range of 0.60 to 4.96. These ascent flight aerodynamic characteristics provide the basis for trajectory and performance analysis, loads determination, and guidance and control evaluation.

Springer, A. M.

A Method of Integrating Aeroheating into Conceptual Reusable Launch Vehicle Design: Evaluation of Advanced Thermal Protection Techniques for Future Reusable Launch Vehicles

A method for integrating Aeroheating analysis into conceptual reusable launch vehicle (RLV) design is presented in this thesis. This process allows for faster turn-around time to converge a RLV design through the advent of designing an optimized thermal protection system (TPS). It consists of the coupling and automation of four computer software packages: MINIVER, TPSX, TCAT, and ADS. MINIVER is an Aeroheating code that produces centerline radiation equilibrium temperatures, convective heating rates, and heat loads over simplified vehicle geometries. These include flat plates and swept cylinders that model wings and leading edges, respectively. TPSX is a NASA Ames material properties database that is available on the World Wide Web. The newly developed Thermal Calculation Analysis Tool (TCAT) uses finite difference methods to carry out a transient in-depth 1-D conduction analysis over the center mold line of the vehicle. This is used along with the Automated Design Synthesis (ADS) code to correctly size the vehicle's thermal protection system (TPS). The numerical optimizer ADS uses algorithms that solve constrained and unconstrained design problems. The resulting outputs for this process are TPS material types, unit thicknesses, and acreage percentages. TCAT was developed for several purposes. First, it provides a means to calculate the transient in-depth conduction seen by the surface of the TPS material that protects a vehicle during ascent and reentry. Along with the in-depth conduction, radiation from the surface of the material is calculated along with the temperatures at the backface and interior parts of the TPS material. Secondly, TCAT contributes added speed and automation to the overall design process. Another motivation in the development of TCAT is optimization. In some vehicles, the TPS accounts for a high percentage of the overall vehicle dry weight. Optimizing the weight of the TPS will thereby lower the percentage of the dry weight accounted for by the TPS. Also, this will lower the cost of the TPS and the overall cost of the vehicle.

Olds, John R.

Air Launch and LOX Collection as Enabling Technologies for Future Launch Systems

Launch from an aerial, subsonic carrier aircraft yields significant improvements in engine performance and reduced drag and gravity losses. Additionally, the carrier aircraft can fly to latitudes that permit ascent into any desired inclination. Vehicle performance is limited by the takeoff mass constraint of the carrier aircraft, but the inflight collection of liquid oxygen may enable this constraint to be breached.

Sorensen, Kirk

STS-112/Atlantis/ISS 9A Pre-Launch - Launch On-Orbit - Landing - Crew Egress

The video starts with an introduction of the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-112 at their customary pre-flight meal. The crew consists of Commander Jeffrey Ashby, Pilot Pam Melroy, and Mission Specialists David Wolf, Sandra Magnus, Piers Sellers, and Fyodor Yurchikhin. The crew is then shown during suit-up, while exiting the Operations and Checkout Building to board the Astrovan, and during ingress and seating. Launch views include: Beach Tracker, VAB, PAD-B, Tower-1, DLTR-3, Grandstand, Cocoa Beach DOAMS, Playalinda DOAMS, UCS-23, OTV-170, OTV-171, and External Tank Camera. On-orbit footage includes the Atlantis orbiter docking with the ISS (International Space Station). The video shows clips of extravehicluar activities (EVAs), and some of the tasks performed during the mission. Footage included shows the installation of the S1 Truss onto the ISS with the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (Canadarm 2), Canadarm 2 carrying the Ammonia Tank Assembly prior to connection, the checkout of the Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint, the soft docking of an S-Band antenna, and the deployment of the S1 Radiator. An onboard repair of the ISS humidity separator is also shown. Landing views include: VAB, Tower 1, Mid-Field, Runway South End, Runway North End, Tower-2, Cocoa Beach DOAMS, and PPOV. Kennedy Space Center managers greet the crew upon arrival, and Commander Ashby gives a brief speech while standing with his crew members.

Source record

STS-113/Endeavour/ISS 11A Pre-Launch - Launch On Orbit - Landing - Crew Egress

The crew of STS-113 and the Expedition 6 crew of the International Space Station (ISS) are introduced leaving the suitup room and while being assisted in their seats onboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. The shuttle's crew consisted of Commander Jim Wetherbee, Pilot Paul Lockhart and Mission Specialists Michael Lopez-Alegria and John Herrington. The Expedition 6 crew consisted of Commander Ken Bowersox, Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin and NASA ISS Science Officer Don Pettit. Clips of the Endeavour's night launch are shown from these cameras: Beach Tracker, VAB, Pad A, OTV-60, OTV-70, Tower 1, UCS-15, Press Site Grandstand, Cocoa Beach DOAMS, Playalinda Beach DOAMS, UCS-23, and the In-Cabin Camera. While on-orbit, highlights include the docking of Endeavour with the ISS, the Change of Command Ceremony by the Expedition 5 and 6 crews of the ISS, the mating of the P1 and S0 Trusses, and three extravehicular activities (EVAs) by astronauts Lopez-Allegria and Herrington. The shuttle crew also repairs a leak in the onboard Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly. Clips of the shuttle's landing are shown from these cameras: VAB, Tower 1, Midfield, Runway South End, Runway North End, Tower 2, Playalinda DOAMS, UCS-3 Infrared, UCS-23, Midfield Infrared, and Pilot Point of View (PPOV).

Source record

Space shuttle: High angle of attack transition and low angle of attack launch phase aerodynamic stability and control of GD/C B-18E-2, B-18E-3 delta wing booster, and launch configuration of MSC-040A orbiter and twin pressure fed boosters

The test was a conventional stability and control test except for two aspects. One was the very high angles of attack at which the delta wing configurations were tested (up to 60 degrees) at Mach numbers of 3 and 4.96. The other was the installation of the orbiter and twin boosters in a manner that caused the support system to induce normal forces and side forces on the aft portion of the boosters at all Mach numbers; i.e., the support and the booster bodies were close together, side by side.

Debevoise, J. M.