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The Use of Inflatable Structures for Re-entry of Orbiting Vehicles
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English
Abstract
Inflatable recovery systems offer the unique advantage that a large high-drag shape can be stored initially in a relatively small package. The resulting shapes decelerate rapidly with lower heating inputs than other types of re-entry vehicles. Recent developments have led to some lightweight materials that, with little thermal protection, can withstand the heating inputs to such vehicles. As a result, inflatable recovery vehicles offer a simple, reliable and economical way to return various vehicles from orbit. This paper examines the application of this concept to a large and a small vehicle with the accompanying dynamics that might be expected. More complex systems could extend the concept to emergency personnel escape systems, payload abort and satellite recovery systems.
Authors
Citation
Kendall, R. and Maddox, A., "The Use of Inflatable Structures for Re-entry of Orbiting Vehicles," SAE Technical Paper 901835, 1990, https://doi.org/10.4271/901835.Also In
References
- Bono, Philip Bergonz, F.H. Hayes, John P. AN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS STUDY FOR A REUSABLE ONE-STAGE ORBITAL SPACE TRUCK (ROOST) Report SM-42597 Missiles & Space Div., Douglas Aircraft Co., Inc.
- Kendall, Robert T. Unpublished data
- Maddox, Arthur R. TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS OF AEROSPACE RECOVERY SYSTEMS, INC. INFLATABLE RECOVERY SYSTEMS RE-ENTRY 28 September 1989