In-Flight Testing of Critical Technologies and Experimentation of Aerothermodynamic Phenomena

Abstract

The objective of the EXPERT re-entry flight project is to obtain data on critical aerothermodynamic phenomena by means of dedicated payloads integrated onto its thermal protection system. These data will be used to validate the tools for Aerodynamic data basing and Aerothermodynamic design of thermal protection systems of hypersonic cruise and reentry spacecrafts. Validation of design tools really means understanding of the uncertainties associated with the use of ground based hypersonic facilities, with the level of validation of the physical models embedded into the numerical codes employed for the numerical reconstruction of these windtunnel experiments , its flight extrapolation as well as with the qualification of the sensors integrated into the thermal protection system . Within this paper, the objectives of the different measurement assemblies and their designs are reviewed. The theoretical tools and experimental facilities related to the flight experiments are presented.

Bayesian-Based Method with Metamodels for Rebuilding Freestream Conditions in Atmospheric Entry Flows

“…The forward problem, which consists in predicting stagnation-point pressure and heat flux from freestream conditions, is described by a physico-chemical model and solved by suitable numerical methods proposed by Barbante [1]. We investigate one point of the trajectory of the European EXPerimental Reentry Test-bed (EXPERT) vehicle, which has been developed by the European Space Agency as part of its General Technological Research Program [9]. The trajectory point corresponds roughly to the chemical non-equilibrium flow conditions of lem is then reduced to determine for instance only freestream pressure and Mach number.…”

Temperature Mapping of a Re-entry Vehicle Flap in High Enthalpy Flow Test

“…A promising approach to achieve this objective is the combination of flight experiments, numerical simulations and validation in ground test facilities. This is exemplified in the European eXPErimental Reentry Testbed ("EXPERT") project of the European Space Agency (ESA), where a sub-orbital flight and atmospheric re-entry of a fully instrumented capsule (see figure 1) is to be performed to collect relevant thermo-physical data [1]. Numerical models of the spacecraft performance can then be checked for the validity of the inherent model assumptions.…”