The objective of this activity is to demonstrate the capability to test new supersonic parachute designs in representative conditions for space missions and reduce the reliance on existing non-European parachute systems by using European sounding rockets.

 

 

As already proved feasible by the flight of the Sounding Hypersonic Atmospheric Re-entering Kapsule (SHARK) on the MAXUS-8 sounding rocket, the present activity shall make use of the spare payload volume, otherwise used for ballast, to perform a low cost flight test of a supersonic parachute on the MAXUS mission in 2015. Also, an initial internal feasibility study showed that there is possible to test a suitable sized parachute (1m diameter) in the available mass and volume constraints given by MAXUS, therefore there is a very good opportunity to develop state-of-the-art technologies for testing supersonic parachutes in Europe.

 

The proposed activity includes:

 

• The detailed design of the capsule, parachute and deployment system including instrumentation and avionics.

• The procurement (COTS)/development/manufacture of all items above.

• Installation the payload on MAXUS - (launch).

• Post flight analysis.

 

The following minimum instrumentation is foreseen to obtain flight data for design:

 

• Timer to measure events from MAXUS separation (initiation) to touchdown.

• Video of the deployment and steady state descent.

• Accelerations and Angular rates of the capsule.

• Axial force during deployment.

• Pressure sensor(s).

 

Further, since the capsule will be analysed by CFD to assess the wake, heating and the stability for the reference mission, there is also an opportunity to test future mission capsule shape dynamics in relevant conditions.