The Utilization of Starute Decelerators for Improved Upper Atmosphere Measurements

Abstract

The results of flight tests of a 4.5-m-square Arcas Starute developed for upper atmosphere research are described. The development of this Starute evolved from the 2-m-square Loki Starute, a decelerator currently being used operationally for the Meteorological Rocket Network (MRN). The Arcas Starute possesses the following characteristics: Low ballistic coefficient; deployment reliability at high altitudes; high stability; low angle of attack; and high radar reflectivity. The Arcas Starute was deployed with different payload weights over a range of altitudes from 61 km to 78 km. In all cases the decelerator remained subsonic and proved to be extremely stable. The paper discusses the environmental conditions under which decelerators are deployed from a research rocket, and the manner in which they are expected to perform when the deployment altitude varies from 61 km to 100 km.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1974
Accession Number
ADA005589

Entities

People

  • B. W. Kennedy
  • R. O. Olsen

Organizations

  • United States Army Communications-Electronics Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Coefficients
  • Altitude
  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Detectors
  • Dynamic Pressure
  • High Altitude
  • Laser Radar
  • Lasers
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • New Mexico
  • Radar
  • Radiosondes
  • Reliability
  • Sounding Rockets
  • Telemetry
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.