Foreign Object Damage: Impact Tests on Sounding Rocket Fin Structures

Abstract

In aviation as well as space flight Foreign Object Damage (FOD) are damages caused by any objects or substances alien to the respective craft or related system. 15 years after Space Shuttle Colombia's disastrous foam strike accident, DLR's Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) performs high velocity impact tests on Improved Orion (IO) fin structures thus supporting the failure investigation of the REXUS-24 flight anomaly. The respective test campaign was conducted at DLR's Institute of Structures and Design, which is running different gas gun test beds for high velocity impact tests on diverse structural elements. In total, seven impact shots were carried out using original sized and downscaled 320gram hatch assemblies as projectiles. Here the impactor's flight behaviour before and after impact as well as its induced damage pattern under different impact scenarios were the campaign's main objectives. This work describes the test setup, its test articles used, its performance and the discussion of its related results as well as the failure theory being supported by this test.