Enabling tecnologies for Hot structures of next generation RLV’s – the first ASA results and lesson learned

Paper number

IAC-08.D2.5.9

Author

Mr. F.A. Fossati, Alenia Spazio, Italy

Year

2008

Abstract

The hot structures development is a task envisaged as critical in the framework of the feasibility of an RLV.
The availability of materials and architectures able to work simultaneously as primary structure and as TPS could lead to significant mass savings, joined to other advantages coming from the implementations of the results of the developments performed meanwhile in terms of health management system implementation and maintainability.
THALES ALENIA SPACE ITALIA is leading the program ASA (Advanced Structural Assembly) under ASI contract to explore this technological environment, where a team of Italian industries is developing some new materials and techniques oriented to the realization of a full hot structure made of different materials and technologies, to be used as pathfinder for the key development to be boosted in the coming years.
The paper is giving an overview on the programs achievements reached so far, including the results of the first test in the Scirocco Plasma Wind Tunnel, resulting in one of the most complicated system-level PWT test ever run in Europe and most probably worldwide.

Abstract document

IAC-08.D2.5.9.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.D2.5.9.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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