Stratospheric Projectile Experiment of Entry Dynamics (SPEED) (SPEED)

The Stratospheric Projectile Experiment of Entry Dynamics (SPEED) is first-of-its-kind flight system for characterizing capsule dynamic stability via stratospheric balloon dropped free-flight testing. The dynamics of blunt-body vehicles in the supersonic and transonic regimes of atmospheric entry often play a dominant role in the design of atmospheric entry missions. This atmospheric free-flight test architecture provides a cost-competitive alternative to the existing experimental facilities while providing vastly richer experimental data and improvements in the achievable similarity to full-scale flight conditions.

Only three experimental facilities are currently capable of characterizing dynamic stability are operational nationwide to support testing needs. These facilities have shortcomings which directly affect the confidence in the dynamics. Computational methods are improving in capability, but have yet to eliminate the need for testing. Unlike existing methods, this technique enables the dynamics to evolve throughout the entire regime of interest and collect rich data throughout. The similarity to full-scale flight conditions, richness of data, and ability for controlled and repeatable tests, provide valuable data for design of entry vehicles.

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