NEW DEMISE TECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS OF SPACECRAFT STRUCTURAL JOINTS

Abstract

The recently introduced discipline of Design for Demise aims to promote the atmospheric demise of a spacecraft and its respective components during re-entry, to reduce the casualty risk on ground. An earlier opening of spacecraft outer structure improves the overall atmospheric demise of subsystems, units, and components. New technical solutions are therefore needed to achieve a targeted opening / release of external structural components and spacecraft modules. Currently used materials and joining techniques have been investigated within high enthalpy wind tunnel and static heat chamber tests, to better understand the processes at play during their demise. Under consideration of the different failure scenarios observed during testing, the subsequent breadboard testing focused on passively activated demisable joining technologies. Technical design considerations were combined with their potential effects on e.g., the reliability of demise, mechanical performance, system impact, scalability, and potential costs. Based on an elaborated trade-off system various joining concepts then underwent a range of tests in a wind tunnel and re-entry chamber. Testing compared the demise ability with the current state-of-the-art technology and assessed their demise performance. Based on the results the appropriate utilisation of demise technology, can improve the demise of any given spacecraft and by association, reduce the casualty risk on the ground.