Application of Advanced Grid-Stiffened Structures Technology to the Minotaur Payload Fairing

Abstract

The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS) is exploring new structural configurations and corresponding methods for fabricating launch vehicle fairings. The goal of this research is to reduce the cost of these components while also enabling large structures to be fabricated. Processes for fabricating Advanced Grid Stiffened (AGS) composite structures have been developed that show promise to help achieve these goals. These procedures were successfully demonstrated in an AGS fairing for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization's (BMDO) Combined Experiments Program. Currently, AFRL/VS has joined with Boeing's Phantom Works and Orbital Sciences Corp (OSC) to develop an extended fairing for the Orbital Suborbital Program's Minotaur launch vehicle. The design methods, fabrication procedures, and testing plans used to develop this fairing will be discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA510804

Entities

People

  • Barry P. Vanwest
  • John E. Higgins
  • Peter M. Wegner

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer
  • Composite Materials
  • Fabrication
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Fiber Reinforced Composites
  • Fiber Reinforced Polymers
  • Launch Vehicles
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Military Research
  • Spacecraft
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Nanoscale Plasmonic Nanotechnology
  • Reinforced Composite Materials

Technology Areas

  • Space