The Use of Inflatable Structures for Re-entry of Orbiting Vehicles

Format:

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Kendall, Robert T., author.

Conference Name:

Aerospace Technology Conference & Exposition (1990-10-01 : Long Beach, California, United States)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 1990

Summary:

AbstractInflatable 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

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

901835

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license