Development of Ablation Sensors for Advanced Reentry Vehicles,
Abstract
Three sensors to measure the ablation parameters of advanced heat-shield materials during reentry have been developed by the Instrument Research Division of the NASA Langley Research Center. The make wire sensor is designed to measure rate of recession of the char layer interface in a charring ablator, while the light pipe and spring wire sensors are designed to measure material surface recession rates. These sensors have been extensively tested in arc-jet facilities to evaluate their performance in a simulated reentry heating environment. The results of these tests indicate that each of the three types is capable of measuring material surface (or char interface) position to an accuracy in the order of 0.01 inch. The sensors have been flight tested on a Scout reentry vehicle in a nosecap of the Project Apollo heat-shield material at heating conditions approximating those to be encountered during atmospheric reentry from a lunar mission. This paper will describe the design and mode of operation of the make wire, light pipe, and spring wire sensors and the results of the development program undertaken to qualify them for flight.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- ADA307385
Entities
People
- James M. Russell Iii
- Peter J. Lebel
Organizations
- Langley Research Center