Conceptual Aerobraking System Design for Geospace Exploration Vehicles

Beschreibung

In 2004 the International Academy of Astronautics identified a so called Geospace Exploration Vehicle as part of the next architectural step for human space exploration. The return of such a vehicle requires a large amount of fuel for braking at the Earth into a low Earth orbit. This work evaluates possible configurations of an Aerobraking system to slow the spacecraft down by utilizing atmospheric drag. A baseline concept is developed and analyzed in a parametric study based on wake flow simulations, aerodynamic stability, a thermal and a structural model. Aerobraking system mass ratios of 15% can be achieved for 60 atmospheric passes. The design is applicable to a wide range of vehicle masses and robust against a shift in the location of the center of mass providing mission flexibility.

Autor*in

Bastian Olberts

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