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Instrumented splashdown testing of a scale model Titan Mare Explorer (TiME) capsule

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2016

R. D. Lorenz,
K. Hibbard,
M. V. Paul,
J. Walsh,
D. W. Olds,
S. Willits,
E. B. Bierhaus and
W. E. Kretsch
K. Hibbard
Affiliation:
Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland, USA
M. V. Paul
Affiliation:
Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
J. Walsh
Affiliation:
Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
D. W. Olds
Affiliation:
Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
S. Willits
Affiliation:
Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
E. B. Bierhaus
Affiliation:
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colorado, USA
W. E. Kretsch
Affiliation:
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colorado, USA
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Abstract

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Water entry tests are conducted with a scale model capsule to explore the sensitivity of splashdown accelerations and motions to impact conditions, to support estimation of splashdown loads and behaviours of the proposed Titan Mare Explorer (TiME) mission. A 3D printed capsule with off-the-shelf USB accelerometer loggers enabled tests to be performed on a tight schedule. Contact impulse and peak loads are presented for a range of impact speeds and geometries, and predicted loads at full-scale on Titan are derived. The observed variation of peak load with impact speed is broadly consistent with the theoretically-expected square law but is surprisingly also consistent with a linear function (in common with some results from the literature). Test execution procedures and the performance of the data acquisition system are reviewed.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 119 , Issue 1214 , April 2015, pp. 409 - 431
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2015

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