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Pterodactyl: Thermal Protection System for Integrated Control Design of a Mechanically Deployed Entry VehicleThe need for precision landing of high mass payloads on Mars and the return of sensitive samples from other planetary bodies to specific locations on Earth is driving the development of an innovative NASA technology referred to as the Deployable Entry Vehicle (DEV). A DEV has the potential to deliver an equivalent science payload with a stowed diameter 3 to 4 times smaller than a traditional rigid capsule configuration. However, the DEV design does not easily lend itself to traditional methods of directional control. The NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)’s Pterodactyl project is currently investigating the effectiveness of three different Guidance and Control (G&C) systems – actuated flaps, Center of Gravity (CG) or mass movement, and Reaction Control System (RCS) – for use with a DEV using the Adaptable, Deployable, Entry, and Placement Technology (ADEPT) design. This paper details the Thermal Protection System (TPS) design and associated mass estimation efforts for each of the G&C systems. TPS is needed for the nose cap of the DEV and the flaps of the actuated flap control system. The development of a TPS selection, sizing, and mass estimation method designed to deal with the varying requirements for the G&C options throughout the trajectory is presented. The paper discusses the methods used to i) obtain heating environments throughout the trajectory with respect to the chosen control system and resulting geometry; ii) determine a suitable TPS material; iii) produce TPS thickness estimations; and, iv) determine the final TPS mass estimation based on TPS thickness, vehicle control system, vehicle structure, and vehicle payload.


Document ID
20200000323
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hays, Zane B. (Science and Technology Corp. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Yount, Bryan C. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Nikaido, Ben E. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Tran, Jason (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
D'Souza, Sarah N. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Kinney, David J. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
McGuire, M. Kathleen (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
January 16, 2020
Publication Date
January 6, 2020
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Launch Vehicles And Launch Operations
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN76172
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Sci Tech
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: January 6, 2020
End Date: January 10, 2020
Sponsors: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA16BD60C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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