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MHD Augmented Aerocapture System to Enable Flagship Class Missions to Ice Giants

Completed TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 4)

Description

Integrates Principles of MHD to generate steering forces required during entries. Use a coupled MHD+CFD code in 3-D mode to analyze geometries and MHD components for meeting thermal and other aeroshell and vehicle requirements. Analyze Shock Interactions for Guiding the Design of an Entry Capsule. The proposed work would continue the subsystem design necessary for proceeding with a wind-tunnel experiment to validate the analysis.

Benefits

If our analysis is validated later via wind-tunnel and flight demonstration tests, then this approach enables faster transits and larger payloads delivered to worlds with atmospheres. This study gets us our technology one step closer to those validation tests.

Details

Technology areaEntry, Descent, and Landing
ProgramCenter Innovation Fund: LaRC CIF (LaRC CIF)
Lead organizationLangley Research Center, Hampton, VA
Start date2021-10-01
End date2022-09-30

Project contacts

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How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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