Mid-Lift-to-Drag Ratio Rigid Vehicle Free-Flight Motion Characterization in Earth's Atmosphere
Abstract
Flight experiments of gun-launched scale models of a conceptual airframe called the Co-Optimization Blunt body Re-entry Analysis Mid-Lift-to-Drag (L/D) Rigid Vehicle (CobraMRV), being considered by NASA for future manned Mars missions, were conducted at the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command in the fall of 2017. In-flight observations by test-range radars and high-speed video cameras were recorded and postprocessed to obtain CobraMRV state estimates useful for aerodynamic characterization of the CobraMRV shape. Because the image resolution of most of the recorded video was insufficient for automated computerized processing, manual processing was undertaken. Despite limited diagnostic fidelity, flight motion history observations appear suitable to enable characterization of aerodynamic damping. Methods employed and the CobraMRV state estimates obtained are detailed. Possible changes in procedures and additions to test-range equipment enabling improved accuracy of flight-body measurements are presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1128131
Entities
People
- T. G. Brown
- Thomas Harkins
Organizations
- United States Army