SHEFEX II - The Next Step within Flight Testing of Re-entry Technology

Abstract

Within the SHEFEX flight test programme, the German Aerospace Center focuses on the development for re-entry and hypersonic technology. Using adapted commercial sounding rocket systems as used for micro gravity research it is possible to perform cost effective flight tests in a short time period. Thus, besides material or structural testing of hardware, the comparison of real flight data with numerical simulations and ground test results is very important to adjust and verify simulation tools and the plausibility of ground test results. After a successful flight of the first sharp edge flight experiment SHEFEX at October 27th 2005 the next mission is under preparation. Within this paper the basic goals and architecture of the SHEFEX II mission will be presented. Also launched by a two staged sounding rocket system SHEFEX II will be a consequent next step in technology test and demonstration. Considering all experience and collected flight data obtained during the SHEFEX I Mission, the test vehicle will be re-designed and extended by an active control system, which allows active aerodynamic control during the re-entry phase. Thus, ceramic based aerodynamic control elements like rudders or flaps, mechanical actuators and an automatic electronic control unit will be implemented. In addition, some other experiments including an actively cooled thermal protection element, advanced sensor equipment, high temperature antenna inserts etc. are planned to fly with SHEFEX II, which is scheduled for beginning of 2010. Within this paper the general test approach and preliminary mission description will be given.