The DLR Sharp Edge Flight Experiment SHEFEX

Kurzfassung

Here is presented an overview of the SHarp Edge FLight Experiment, SHEFEX, including main goals and current state. The project, being performed under responsibility of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), is aimed to investigate the behaviour and the possibilities of an improved shape for aerospace vehicles considering sharp edges and facetted surfaces. It is a basic in-flight experimentation research on hypersonic technologies for future launcher vehicles but not a re-entry experiment. The paper briefly describes the overall philosophy of the project, schedule for flight on top of a sounding rocket in the first half of 2005. The approaches adopted on each of the involved disciplines, i.e. mission system and launcher; aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics and in-flight measurement techniques; structure and thermal protection systems, including the passenger experiments are also discussed.