Thermal Protection Systems : Heritage - Development Status - Perspectives

Abstract

Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) TPS belong to the group of key technologies that will enable the flight of hypersonic and re-entry vehicles, as they provide a high temperature resistant non ablative outer mould line for enhanced aerodynamic control. These thermostructural composites have been developed in Herakles, Safran group for more than 20 years, and have reached a high Technology Readiness Level. Their maturity can now only be improved through an actual flight, which will precisely be made through the current development, manufacturing, and soon to be launched Intermediate experimental Vehicle (IXV). The IXV, atmospheric re-entry demonstrator developed within the FLPP (Future Launcher Preparatory Program) and funded by ESA, aims at developing a demonstration vehicle that will give Europe a unique opportunity to increase its know-how in the field of advanced atmospheric re-entry technologies. A key technology that will be demonstrated in real conditions through the flight of this ambitious vehicle is the CMC-based Thermal Protection System (TPS) that is the current baseline for the thermal protection of the windward area, as well as the nose assembly. The development of the IXV vehicle, has gained considerable momentum since the beginning of 2010 with the start of the detailed design phase that has been concluded in early 2011, and with the start of the qualification and flight hardware manufacturing phase. The detailed design phase comprised extensive thermal and thermo-mechanical analyses, smallscale tests on the various components of the Windward and Nose Assemblies, and large scale prototypes manufacturing. Among those tests, some have specifically made to assess the behavior of the TPS during re-entry The paper will describe the important TPS heritage available at Herakles, Safran group, the current technological achievements of the development of the Windward Assembly TPS and Nose Assembly, and the activities that are initiated and planned for the qualification and the delivery of the flight hardware. It will also present future perspectives and potential applications..