An active jet-based deployment mechanism for improved aerodynamic performance and thermal protection of reentry vehicles

Abstract

As the demand for interplanetary transportation and deep space exploration missions continues to grow, deployable reentry vehicles have garnered significant attention due to their effective aerodynamic capture and deceleration capabilities, making them a focal point of research for nearly half a century. In reentry flight, traditional motor-driven deployment methods face risks and challenges such as insufficient motor energy supply, low deployment reliability, excessive weight, occupancy of payload space, and potential electromagnetic interference. If deployment failure occurs, it can significantly impact the safety of the flight mission. To address these challenges, this study proposes a jet-based deployment strategy utilizing shoulder thrusters. By carefully designing the associated parameters, this strategy offers a viable alternative to motor-driven mechanisms for deployment tasks. Furthermore, the aerodynamic simulations of the deployment process are conducted, considering various operating conditions, to investigate the influence of deployment angles on the flow field and to compare the aerodynamic performance of the two strategies. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the mass characteristics is conducted. The results show that the jet-based deployment strategy achieves desired objectives and offers advantages such as reduced drag, increased heat flux, enhanced stability, reduced mass, and improved space utilization. These findings have significant engineering implications and pave the way for widespread applications in the future.