Print Email Facebook Twitter A recovery system for the key components of the first stage of a heavy launch vehicle Title A recovery system for the key components of the first stage of a heavy launch vehicle Author Dek, Casper (Student TU Delft) Overkamp, Jean Luc (Student TU Delft) Toeter, Akke (Student TU Delft) Hoppenbrouwer, Tom (Student TU Delft) Slimmens, Jasper (Student TU Delft) van Zijl, Job (Student TU Delft) Areso Rossi, Pietro (Student TU Delft) Machado, Ricardo (Student TU Delft) Hereijgers, Sjef (Student TU Delft) Kilic, Veli (Student TU Delft) Naeije, M.C. (TU Delft Astrodynamics & Space Missions) Date 2020-05-01 Abstract In recent years, the space market has been pushing towards decreasing costs of launching spacecraft by reusing parts of the launchers. The purpose of this article is to present a feasibility study of a recovery system for the engine and engine frame of an existing, expendable heavy launch vehicle and present recommendations for further research. The concept developed is verified based on the Ariane 6. The recovery of the Vulcain Aft Bay (VuAB) is initialised by separation from the first stage at 157.7 km altitude while travelling at 6930 m/s. The study investigates an inflatable aeroshell for protection and deceleration during re-entry, after which it is proposed to further decelerate the VuAB using drogue parachutes. The final part of the concept entails retrieval of the VuAB by a helicopter in mid-air. To enable a controlled gliding flight during retrieval a parafoil is proposed. At launch, the recovery system will weigh 2789 kg with a payload penalty of 720 kg. The system can be integrated into the existing design of the launcher and will not interfere with nominal operations of the launcher. Implementing the recovery system can reduce the cost per launch of an Ariane 6 by 15% Subject AblatorControllable parafoilFirst stage recoveryInflatable heat shieldMid-air recoveryReusability To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:2b04da62-5883-4ed0-8c66-f59322804e90 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2020.105778 ISSN 1270-9638 Source Aerospace Science and Technology, 100 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2020 Casper Dek, Jean Luc Overkamp, Akke Toeter, Tom Hoppenbrouwer, Jasper Slimmens, Job van Zijl, Pietro Areso Rossi, Ricardo Machado, Sjef Hereijgers, Veli Kilic, M.C. Naeije Files PDF 1_s2.0_S1270963819326458_main.pdf 1.89 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:2b04da62-5883-4ed0-8c66-f59322804e90/datastream/OBJ/view