Boundary Layer Transition (BOLT) Flight Test Program
Abstract
The Boundary Layer Transition (BOLT) flight experiment was designed to study hypersonic boundary layer transition on a geometry with low-curvature concave surfaces and highly-swept leading edges. Significant research was conducted to understand transition mechanisms on the BOLT geometry in a widespread preflight ground testing and analysis campaign conducted by a broad team of organizations, culminating in the design and fabrication of a flight experiment to measure transition physics in flight [19]. A two-stage sounding rocket flight vehicle was to deliver the BOLT experiment payload to hypersonic flight conditions during both the ascent and descent of a ballistic trajectory. The BOLT experiment was instrumented with over 340 channels of scientific instrumentation intended to measure surface temperatures, heat transfer rates, and pressure fluctuations through the atmosphere to characterize boundary-layer transition behavior. BOLT was led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and is conducted by a diverse team of Government, industry, and academic organizations including the Air Force Research Laboratory Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFRL/AFOSR) and Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQ), German Aerospace Center (DLR) Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) [10], Purdue University, the University of Minnesota, Texas A and M University, CUBRC, NASA Langley Research Center, GoHypersonic Inc., and VirtusAero LLC. Flight computers based on the HIFiRE design were provided for use on BOLT by the Australia Defence Science and Technology (DST) group. The test range operations occurred at the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden. Together, this multi-national team has advanced methodologies to understand transition mechanisms on the BOLT geometry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 08, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1231096
Entities
People
- Bradley Wheaton
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University