Feasibility Study on the Generalization of the Demise Observation Capsule

Abstract

In multi-stage launch vehicles, the adjacent stage re-enters the Earth atmosphere. Once the stage is re-entering the atmosphere, the low-melting-point materials melt and the inner parts will be exposed to excessive heat. With heat increasing, the parts will break into debris. Some of the fragments will burn in the atmosphere, others will crash into the Earth’s surface. Since there is a lack of knowledge about the re-entering physics, Demise Observation Capsule (DOC) project is started. The DOC collects information about the re-entry progress of launch vehicle stage, where it is mounted on. Several launchers and stages are considered to investigate the effect of the location on the DOC’s configuration. In an ideal situation, the DOC can be placed on all stages/parts of launch vehicles and at the same time it is optimized for that location. A generalized design concept that fits on several locations and stages, will reduce the cost and effort. Therefore, the thesis objective is to determine whether it is feasible to have a generalized DOC or an optimized DOC per location and load case. Additionally, the current DOC is designed for four locations and the second objective of this thesis is to optimize the current DOC and shift its center of gravity to the nose of the DOC. For this reason, the main research questions are as follows: Is it feasible to generalize the DOC concept design so that it will fit on every ESA launcher and stage and meet the predefined requirements and will withstand environmental loads while general operability of the DOC is guaranteed? How can the center of gravity be shifted on the DOC to its nose under the current designed loads such that the DOC can be made more stable?