Overview of the first test-flight of the kentucky re-entry universal payload system (KRUPS)

J. Devin Sparks; Evan C. Whitmer; Gabriel I. Myers; Courtney C. Montague; Collin J. Dietz; Nicola Khouri; J. Tyler Nichols; Sean C. Field; Suzanne W. Smith; Alexandre Martin

doi:10.2514/6.2018-1720

Overview of the first test-flight of the kentucky re-entry universal payload system (KRUPS)

J. Devin Sparks
, Evan C. Whitmer
, Gabriel I. Myers
, Courtney C. Montague
, Collin J. Dietz
, Nicola Khouri
, J. Tyler Nichols
, Sean C. Field
, Suzanne W. Smith
, Alexandre Martin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The design of an efficient Thermal Protection System (TPS) remains one of the most challenging tasks of planetary exploration missions. Because of the harshness of atmospheric entry environments, ground tests cannot replicate these conditions. Consequently, engineers must rely on numerical models that often lack validation data. To provide a path toward inexpensive validation, the Kentucky Reentry Universal Payload System (KRUPS) spacecraft is being developed at the University of Kentucky. As a technology maturation step toward this overall goal, several KRUPS capsules are to be released from sub-orbital flights. In August 2017, a sub-scale version of the KRUPS capsule was successfully ejected at 150 km of altitude, from a sub-orbital sounding rocket. The goal of this first launch was to raise the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) to TRL 6 by demonstrating data acquisition, communication, sensing, and TPS design. The capsule re-entered the atmosphere, and successfully established communication with satellites. However, no data packet was transmitted. This first launch was nevertheless deemed a success, and paved the way for the next series of full scale missions.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2018-1720
State	Published - 2018
Event	AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2018 - Kissimmee, United States Duration: Jan 8 2018 → Jan 12 2018

Publication series

Name	AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2018

Conference

Conference	AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2018
Country/Territory	United States
City	Kissimmee
Period	1/8/18 → 1/12/18

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.

Funding

Financial support for this work was provided by the Kentucky EPSCoR and NASA Award NNX13AN04A, NASA Kentucky Space Grant NNX15AR69H, and NASA USIP SFRO NNX16AI90A. The authors would like to thank F. Taylor, J. Owen, A. Kerr, J. Lumpp, J. Cooper, C. Meek and O. Schroeder of the University of Kentucky, as well as A. Howard and C. Koehler from the University of Colorado for their help with this project. The authors are also immensely thankful to S. Wade at Yokohama, who graciously facilitated the vibration testing.

Funders	Funder number
Kentucky EPSCoR NLI
NASA Kentucky Space
NASA USIP SFRO NNX16AI90A	USIP SFRO NNX16AI90A
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	NNX13AN04A, NNX15AR69H, NNX16AI90A
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Aerospace Engineering

Access to Document

10.2514/6.2018-1720

Cite this

@inproceedings{b23ab929f9c841cea31785320ba85872,

title = "Overview of the first test-flight of the kentucky re-entry universal payload system (KRUPS)",

abstract = "The design of an efficient Thermal Protection System (TPS) remains one of the most challenging tasks of planetary exploration missions. Because of the harshness of atmospheric entry environments, ground tests cannot replicate these conditions. Consequently, engineers must rely on numerical models that often lack validation data. To provide a path toward inexpensive validation, the Kentucky Reentry Universal Payload System (KRUPS) spacecraft is being developed at the University of Kentucky. As a technology maturation step toward this overall goal, several KRUPS capsules are to be released from sub-orbital flights. In August 2017, a sub-scale version of the KRUPS capsule was successfully ejected at 150 km of altitude, from a sub-orbital sounding rocket. The goal of this first launch was to raise the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) to TRL 6 by demonstrating data acquisition, communication, sensing, and TPS design. The capsule re-entered the atmosphere, and successfully established communication with satellites. However, no data packet was transmitted. This first launch was nevertheless deemed a success, and paved the way for the next series of full scale missions.",

author = "Sparks, \{J. Devin\} and Whitmer, \{Evan C.\} and Myers, \{Gabriel I.\} and Montague, \{Courtney C.\} and Dietz, \{Collin J.\} and Nicola Khouri and Nichols, \{J. Tyler\} and Field, \{Sean C.\} and Smith, \{Suzanne W.\} and Alexandre Martin",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.; AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2018 ; Conference date: 08-01-2018 Through 12-01-2018",

year = "2018",

doi = "10.2514/6.2018-1720",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781624105241",

series = "AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2018",

booktitle = "AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting",

}

Sparks, JD, Whitmer, EC, Myers, GI, Montague, CC, Dietz, CJ, Khouri, N, Nichols, JT, Field, SC, Smith, SW & Martin, A 2018, Overview of the first test-flight of the kentucky re-entry universal payload system (KRUPS). in AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting. AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2018, AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2018, Kissimmee, United States, 1/8/18. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2018-1720

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AU - Sparks, J. Devin

AU - Whitmer, Evan C.

AU - Myers, Gabriel I.

AU - Montague, Courtney C.

AU - Dietz, Collin J.

AU - Khouri, Nicola

AU - Nichols, J. Tyler

AU - Field, Sean C.

AU - Smith, Suzanne W.

AU - Martin, Alexandre

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - The design of an efficient Thermal Protection System (TPS) remains one of the most challenging tasks of planetary exploration missions. Because of the harshness of atmospheric entry environments, ground tests cannot replicate these conditions. Consequently, engineers must rely on numerical models that often lack validation data. To provide a path toward inexpensive validation, the Kentucky Reentry Universal Payload System (KRUPS) spacecraft is being developed at the University of Kentucky. As a technology maturation step toward this overall goal, several KRUPS capsules are to be released from sub-orbital flights. In August 2017, a sub-scale version of the KRUPS capsule was successfully ejected at 150 km of altitude, from a sub-orbital sounding rocket. The goal of this first launch was to raise the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) to TRL 6 by demonstrating data acquisition, communication, sensing, and TPS design. The capsule re-entered the atmosphere, and successfully established communication with satellites. However, no data packet was transmitted. This first launch was nevertheless deemed a success, and paved the way for the next series of full scale missions.

AB - The design of an efficient Thermal Protection System (TPS) remains one of the most challenging tasks of planetary exploration missions. Because of the harshness of atmospheric entry environments, ground tests cannot replicate these conditions. Consequently, engineers must rely on numerical models that often lack validation data. To provide a path toward inexpensive validation, the Kentucky Reentry Universal Payload System (KRUPS) spacecraft is being developed at the University of Kentucky. As a technology maturation step toward this overall goal, several KRUPS capsules are to be released from sub-orbital flights. In August 2017, a sub-scale version of the KRUPS capsule was successfully ejected at 150 km of altitude, from a sub-orbital sounding rocket. The goal of this first launch was to raise the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) to TRL 6 by demonstrating data acquisition, communication, sensing, and TPS design. The capsule re-entered the atmosphere, and successfully established communication with satellites. However, no data packet was transmitted. This first launch was nevertheless deemed a success, and paved the way for the next series of full scale missions.

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M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85141610038

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BT - AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting

T2 - AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2018

Y2 - 8 January 2018 through 12 January 2018

ER -

Overview of the first test-flight of the kentucky re-entry universal payload system (KRUPS)

Abstract

Publication series

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Bibliographical note

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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