A Morphing Deployable Mechanism for Re-Entry Capsule Aeroshell
Source abstract
Abstract
Morphing technology is increasingly emerging as a novel and alternative approach for performing the controlled re-entry and precise landing of space vehicles by using adaptive aeroshell structure designs. This work is intended as a preliminary conceptual design of an innovative shape-changing mechanism for the controlled re-entry and safe recovery of CubeSat class systems aimed at recovering payloads and data from LEO at low cost for post flight inspections and experimentations. Such an adaptive and mechanically deployable aeroshell consists of a multi-hinge assembly based on a set of finger-like articulations having two-modal capabilities. The deployable surface can be modulated by a single translational actuator in order to adapt the lift-to-drag ratio for guided entry. Furthermore, once deployed, the system can activate eight small movable aerodynamic flaps that can be individually morphed via an SMA-based actuation to enhance the capsule maneuverability during the re-entry trajectory, by using exclusively aerodynamic forces to guarantee additional precision in landing. Multi-body simulations on retraction/deployment of the system are addressed to investigate the most critical aspects for actual implementation of the concept. Additionally, the morphing behavior and the control effect of the shape memory alloy actuation are preliminary assessed through parametric analysis. This paper is framed within a scientific cooperation between Italy and Brazil in the framework of the SPLASH project, funded in part for the Italian side by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and by CONFAP through the involved State Funding Agencies (FAPs) for the Brazilian side.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Space Satellite Systems and Control · Spacecraft Dynamics and Control · Structural Analysis and Optimization
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Adaptive Structures Technologies, The Italian Aerospace Research Centre, Via Maiorise, 81043 Capua, Italy
FGA (Faculdade do Gama), Universidade de Brasília, Gama 72444-240, Brazil
Sensors and Actuators for Adaptive Structures, The Italian Aerospace Research Centre, CIRA, Via Maiorise, 81043 Capua, Italy
Adaptive Structures Division, The Italian Aerospace Research Centre, CIRA, Via Maiorise, 81043 Capua, Italy
Funding
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI)
References (33)
Show source-provided references
1. Akin, D. (2010, January 25–30). Applications of ultra-low ballistic coefficient entry vehicles to existing and future space missions. Proceedings of the SpaceOps 2010 Conference Delivering on the Dream Hosted by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and Organized by AIAA, Huntsvillem, AL, USA.10.2514/6.2010-1928 ↗
2. Smith, B., Cassell, A., Kruger, C., Venkatapathy, E., Kazemba, C., and Simonis, K. (2015, January 7–14). Nano-ADEPT: An Entry System for Secondary Payloads. Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, USA.10.1109/AERO.2015.7119095 ↗
3. Carandente, V., Elia, G., and Savino, R. (2013, January 3–9). Conceptual design of de-orbit and re-entry modules for standard cubesats. Proceedings of the 2nd IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions and Cubesat Work-shop, Rome, Italy.
4. Esper, J. (2016, January 27–30). Cubesat Application for Planetary Entry (CAPE) Missions: Micro-Return Capsule (MIRCA). Proceedings of the 30th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, SSC16-XII-05, Toulouse, France.
5. Hughes, S., Bailet, G., Miller, N., Korzun, A., Zumwalt, C., and Cheatwood, F. (2016, January 13–17). Low Cost Innovative Atmospheric Entry Probes Combining CubeSat and HIAD Technologies. Proceedings of the International Planetary Probe Workshop-13, Laurel, MD, USA.
6. New Concepts of Deployable De-Orbit and Re-Entry Systems for CubeSat Miniaturized Satellites10.2174/1872212108666140204004335 ↗
7. Savino, R., Aurigemma, R., Aversana, P.D., Gramiccia, L., Longo, J., Maraffa, L., Punzo, F., and Scolamiero, L. (2015, January 2–7). European Sounding Rocket Experiment on Hypersonic Deployable Re-Entry Demonstrator Background of the Project. Proceedings of the 8th European Symposium on Aerothermodynamics for Space Vehicles, Lisbon, Portugal.
8. Jurewicz, D., Brown, G., Gilles, B., Taylor, A., Sinclair, R., Tutt, B., Lichodziejewski, D., Kelley, C., and Hughes, S. (2011, January 23–26). Design and Development of Inflatable Aeroshell Structure for IRVE-3. Proceedings of the 21st AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference and Seminar, Dublin, Ireland. AIAA Paper 2011-2522.10.2514/6.2011-2522 ↗
9. Coupled Aerostructural Modeling of Deployable Aerodecelerators for Mars Entry10.2514/1.A34310 ↗
10. Gardi, R., Fedele, A., Pezzella, G., Vernillo, P., Savino, R., Mungiguerra, S., Dell’Aversana, P., Gramiccia, L., Henriksson, K., and Smith, J. (2017, January 25–29). Mini-irene: Design of deployable heat shield capsule for a sounding rocket flight experiment. Proceedings of the 68th International Astronautical Congress, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
11. Vernillo, P., Fedele, A., Gardi, R., Savino, R., Punzo, F., Gunnar, F., and Molina, R. (2017, January 11–15). Mini-irene: The first European flight experiment of a deployable heat shield. Proceedings of the 23rd ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon Programmes and Related Research, Visby, Sweden.
12. Dutta, S., Smith, B., Prabhu, D., and Venkatapathy, E. (2012, January 3–10). Mission sizing and trade studies for low ballistic coefficient entry systems to Venus. Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, USA.10.1109/AERO.2012.6187002 ↗
13. Cassell, A., Smith, B.P., Wercinski, P.F., Ghassemieh, S.M., Hibbard, K.E., Nelessen, A.P., and Cutts, J.A. (2018, January 4–9). ADEPT, A Mechanically Deployable Re-Entry Vehicle System, Enabling Interplanetary CubeSat and Small Satellite Missions, SSC18-XII-08. Proceedings of the 32nd Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, Logan, UT, USA.
14. Venkatapathy, E., Hamm, K., Fernandez, I., Arnold, J., Kinney, D., Laub, B., and Andrews, D. (2011, January 23–26). Adaptive Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT): A Feasibility Study for Human Missions to Mars. Proceedings of the 21st AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference and Seminar, Dublin, Ireland. AIAA Paper No. 2011–2608.10.2514/6.2011-2608 ↗
15. Cassell, A., Brivkalns, C., Bowles, J., Garcia, J., Kinney, D., Wercinski, P., Cianciolo, A., and Polsgrove, T. (2017, January 4–11). Human Mars Mission Design Study Utilizing the Adaptive Deployable Entry and Placement Technology. Proceedings of the 2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, USA.10.1109/AERO.2017.7943585 ↗
16. O’ Driscoll, D., Bruce, P.J., and Santer, M.J. (2020, January 6–10). Origami-based TPS Folding Concept for Deployable Mars Entry Vehicles, AIAA 2020-1897. Proceedings of the AIAA Scitech 2020 Forum, Orlando, FL, USA.10.2514/6.2020-1897 ↗
17. Green, J.S., Dunn, B., and Lindberg, R. (2013, January 25–28). Morphing Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator AIAA 2013-1256. Proceedings of the AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems (ADS) Conference, Daytona Beach, FL, USA.10.2514/6.2013-1256 ↗
18. Green, J.S. (2012). Thesis Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia. Available online: https://libra2.lib.virginia.edu/downloads/q811kj77c?filename=Morphing_Hypersonic_Inflatable_Aerodynamic_Decelerator_-_Justin_S_Green.pdf.
19. Aerodynamic control system for a deployable re-entry capsule10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.05.049 ↗
20. Precise re-entry and landing of propellantless spacecraft10.1016/j.asr.2021.09.029 ↗
21. Guidance, navigation, and control solutions for spacecraft re-entry point targeting using aerodynamic drag10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.10.016 ↗
22. Safety analysis for shallow controlled re-entries through reduced order modeling and inputs’ statistics method10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.10.015 ↗
23. Aerothermodynamic and feasibility study of a deployable aerobraking re-entry capsule
24. Fedele, A. (2020). A Deployable Aerobraking System for Atmospheric Reentry. [Ph.D. Thesis, Industrial Engineering, University of Florida].
25. Vanhamel, J., Eaton, N., and Spreij, R. (2022, January 19–23). Using fiber bragg gratings for shape monitoring and adjustment of a thermal protection system aboard a targeted re-entry cubesat. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Flight Vehicles, Aerothermodynamics and Re-entry Missions Engineering (FAR), Heilbronn, Germany.
26. Chin, A., Coelho, R., Nugent, R., Munakata, R., and Puig-Suari, J. (2008, January 9–11). The CubeSat: The Picosatellite Standard for Research and Education. Proceedings of the AIAA SPACE Conference & Exposition, San Diego, CA, USA.10.2514/6.2008-7734 ↗
27. Toorian, A., Diaz, K., and Lee, S. (2008, January 1–8). The CubeSat Approach to Space Access. Proceedings of the IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, USA.10.1109/AERO.2008.4526293 ↗
28. Tauber, M.E. (2023, February 14). A Review of High-Speed, Convective, Heat-Transfer Computation Method, Available online: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19890017745/downloads/19890017745.pdf.
29. Pecora, R., Amoroso, F., Magnifico, M., Dimino, I., and Concilio, A. (2016, January 20–24). KRISTINA: Kinematic rib-based structural system for innovative adaptive trailing edge. Proceedings of the SPIE—The International Society for Optical Engineering, Las Vegas, NV, USA.10.1117/12.2218516 ↗
30. Pecora, R., and Dimino, I. (2015). Shape Memory Alloy Engineering: For Aerospace, Structural and Biomedical Applications, Elsevier Ltd.
31. 35 Hz shape memory alloy actuator with bending-twisting mode
32. Effect of stress on bandwidth of antagonistic shape memory alloy actuators10.1177/1045389X14563865 ↗
33. (2023, February 02). Watlow Website. Available online: https://www.watlow.it/products/heaters/watrod-electric-tubular-heaters.cfm.