SUPERSONIC BRAKING DEVICES FOR REUSABLE UPPER STAGES - OVERVIEW OF ROCKETHANDBRAKE

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the project ‘RocketHandbrake’, which investigates the reusability of upper stages re-entering the earth’s atmosphere at high angles of attack as a means for aerodynamic braking, using Supersonic Braking Devices. For a maximum benefit, this concept takes so-called Ariane Next and Vega E -like launchers as reference configurations. However, the project does not aim to develop those launchers completely, but to clarify and focus on the required aerodynamic control surfaces, the entailed aerodynamics and resulting flow physics, flight dynamics, control laws, and structures, based on and for those example configurations. Furthermore, the results of phase one of the project are described and the decision process for choosing the Ariane Next as baseline configuration for the next project phases is detailed. This includes first aerodynamic, and mission analyses of reusable Ariane Next and Vega E upper stages featuring supersonic braking devices