Non-intrusive Approaches to Full-domain, Scaling-law Based Experimental Investigation of Crater Formation and Plume-surface Interaction Dynamics

In the next decade, NASA is prioritizing returning humans safely to the Moon, deploying scientific instruments, and ultimately human exploration of Mars. However, one of the most significant obstacles to achieving this objective is our limited understanding of the interaction between the rocket exhaust and the lunar surface leading to crater evolution and lunar dust formation during descent and touch-down. Some basic scientific issues that remain include crater and particle-plume formation and evolution in non-intrusive, full-domain experiments; scaling laws to correlate data and predict planetary landing conditions; and the effects of altitude and descent rate on the aforementioned issues. This investigation, conducted by a multi-disciplinary team including experts in propulsion, fluid mechanics, optical diagnostics, and planetary science, centers on improving our scientific understanding of 3D crater evolution process and particle-jet interactions under sub-atmospheric conditions using a multi-pronged non-intrusive diagnostic approach to achieve the following objectives (1) mature and apply time-resolved, non-intrusive, 2D/3D diagnostic techniques for use in sub-scale and full-scale studies and obtain data suitable for validating current computational models under development, (2) develop scaling laws to permit correlating experimental data to flight conditions for proposed landing sites, and (3) quantify the effects of descent rate on the process and mechanisms of rocket exhaust and lunar surface interactions.

This project aims to provide new non-intrusive measurement technologies for studying PSI process in both sub-scale and full-scale experiments. The project will develop new data analysis methods that permit correlation of experimental data from different experiments and predict PSI effects for proposed planetary landing sites and provide new quantitative data on the effects on nozzle descent on PSI processes

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