Low L/D aerobrake test at Mach 10

Abstract

An aerobraking Orbital transfer vehicle may be used to increase the Space Shuttle mission capability to and from high orbits. A Mach 10 wind-tunnel test was performed for a low lift-drag aerobrake, to define a preliminary aerothermal environment for this candidate concept. Test hardware simulated the ribs and stretched fabric of conceptual flight hardware. Pressures, paint-melting histories, and oilflow data were measured on the brake. Pressure and thermocouple heating rate data were measured on the payload. Brake peak heating is at the edge at all angles of attack, although the stagnation point is not outboard of 75 percent radius even at 20 degrees angle of attack. Brake ribs show slightly higher heating than flats, although pressures are essentially constant. Payload peak heating occurs near 12 degrees angle of attack, and is 30 percent of the sphere stagnation point heating (for a sphere of brake diameter). Payload pressure distributions follow the heating pattern. Reynolds number effects are small on the brake and large on the payload, for the range of test conditions: 0.4-1.0 million/foot.