ESA Re-entry Black Box (RBB)
- Paper number
IAC-09.D1.1.8
- Author
Mr. Antoine Bavandi, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Tommaso Sgobba, International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Dr. Guillermo Ortega, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands
- Year
2009
- Abstract
This paper describes the status of the ESA study aimed at designing a standard Re-entry Black Box (RBB) targeting LEO spacecraft and launchers upper stages. The concept baseline is a small, lightweight, disposable and inexpensive device collecting data during re-entry and transmitting it via commercial satellite network before impact. The RBB will be attached to the host vehicle by low melting point materials that can be selected so that separation occurs at the desired altitude. The study will lead to a standard design, robust enough to withstand different re-entry environments, but flexible enough to be adapted to the needs and requirements of various re-entry missions. It should fulfil primarily the following dual function: experimental data collection during re-entry (e.g. temperature, heat flux, Mach number) and “Black Box” type of device, for the recording of the spacecraft’s trajectory data. The latter feature would help to identify the events of an accident and might be used as reference data in case of litigation and liability issues. The need for actual re-entry measurements originates in the combination of several factors. The growing number of operating satellites and space debris, the implementation of de-orbitation requirements for objects being launched into orbit and the need for a better understanding of actual re-entry environments (in terms of technology enhancement as well as models/tools upgrade) make it crucial today to significantly improve our knowledge of the multi-disciplinary phenomena involved in atmospheric re-entry. Such a device would allow to flight test miniature sensor systems and record various types of data, validate thermal protection systems and other re-entry technologies, as well as calibrate models and tools. The RBB could also provide an independent path for data transfer while making use of external sensors: wireless sensors implemented on the host vehicle could indeed transmit data directly to the RBB, enabling the retrieval of data related to the re-entering spacecraft even in case of uncontrolled re-entry. The study, planned on finishing by the end of 2009, will deliver a preliminary design, which should then be followed by a more refined definition, verification and production phase. This paper provides insight into the project status, details of the preliminary design and future prospects expected. Areas of discussion include state-of-the-art re-entry technologies, re-entry capsule system design, re-entry policy and requirements, and potential collaboration on host vehicles or spacecraft of interest.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)