(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005-06)
Rohrschneider, Reuben R.; Braun, Robert D.
Ballute aerodynamic decelerators have been studied
since early in the space age (1960’s), being proposed for
aerocapture in the early 1980’s. Significant technology
advances in fabric and polymer materials as well as
analysis capabilities lend credibility to the potential of
ballute aerocapture. The concept of the thin-film ballute
for aerocapture shows the potential for large mass
savings over propulsive orbit insertion or rigid aeroshell
aerocapture. The mass savings of this concept enables a
number of high value science missions. Current studies
of ballute aerocapture at Titan and Earth may lead to
flight test of one or more ballute concepts within the
next five years. This paper provides a survey of the
literature with application to ballute aerocapture.
Special attention is paid to advances in trajectory
analysis, hypersonic aerothermodynamics, structural
analysis, coupled analysis, and flight tests. Advances
anticipated over the next 5 years are summarized.