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Mackley, E. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Mackley, E. A..

Orbit on demand - Will cost determine best design?

Eleven design concepts for vertical (V) and horizontal (H) take-off launch-on-demand manned orbital vehicles are discussed. Attention is given to up to three stages, Mach numbers (sub-, 2, or 3), expendable boosters, drop tanks (DT), and storable (S) or cryogenic fuels. All the concepts feature lifting bodies with circular cross-section and most have a 7 ft diam, 15 ft long payload bay as well as a crew compartment. Expendable elements impose higher costs and in some cases reduce all-azimuth launch capabilities. Single-stage vehicles simplify the logistics whether in H or V configuration. A two-stage H vehicle offers launch offset for the desired orbital plane before firing the rocket engines after take-off and subsonic acceleration. A two-stage fully reusable V form has the second lowest weight of the vehicles studied and an all-azimuth launch capability. Better definition of the prospective mission requirements is needed before choosing among the alternatives.

Macconochie, J. O.↗

Initial wind tunnel tests at Mach 4 and 7 of a hydrogen-burning, airframe-integrated scramjet

A research investigation of a new, fixed-geometry, hydrogen-burning scramjet engine concept, designed for total airframe integration, is currently in progress. Two heavily instrumented engine models incorporate inlet and combustor designs developed previously in component tests. Initial tests of these subscale engine models are being conducted in ground facilities at conditions simulating flight at Mach numbers 4 and 7. The scramjet test results which are presented include inlet performance, ignition/reaction aids, inlet-combustor interactions, and engine performance in terms of thrust balance measurements and internal pressure and heating rate distributions. The relationship of these results to flight engine performance is discussed.

Guy, R. W.↗

Analysis of experimental results of the inlet for the NASA hypersonic research engine aerothermodynamic integration model

An aerodynamic engine inlet analysis was performed on the experimental results obtained at nominal Mach numbers of 5, 6, and 7 from the NASA Hypersonic Research Engine (HRE) Aerothermodynamic Integration Model (AIM). Incorporation on the AIM of the mixed-compression inlet design represented the final phase of an inlet development program of the HRE Project. The purpose of this analysis was to compare the AIM inlet experimental results with theoretical results. Experimental performance was based on measured surface pressures used in a one-dimensional force-momentum theorem. Results of the analysis indicate that surface static-pressure measurements agree reasonably well with theoretical predictions except in the regions where the theory predicts large pressure discontinuities. Experimental and theoretical results both based on the one-dimensional force-momentum theorem yielded inlet performance parameters as functions of Mach number that exhibited reasonable agreement. Previous predictions of inlet unstart that resulted from pressure disturbances created by fuel injection and combustion appeared to be pessimistic.

Andrews, E. H., Jr.↗

Hypersonic research engine/aerothermodynamic integration model: Experimental results. Volume 3: Mach 7 component integration and performance

The NASA Hypersonic Research Engine Project was undertaken to design, develop, and construct a hypersonic research ramjet engine for high performance and to flight test the developed concept on the X-15-2A airplane over the speed range from Mach 3 to 8. Computer program results are presented here for the Mach 7 component integration and performance tests.

Andrews, E. H., Jr.↗

Hypersonic research engine/aerothermodynamic integration model, experimental results. Volume 1: Mach 6 component integration

The NASA Hypersonic Research Engine (HRE) Project was initiated for the purpose of advancing the technology of airbreathing propulsion for hypersonic flight. A large component (inlet, combustor, and nozzle) and structures development program was encompassed by the project. The tests of a full-scale (18 in. diameter cowl and 87 in. long) HRE concept, designated the Aerothermodynamic Integration Model (AIM), at Mach numbers of 5, 6, and 7. Computer program results for Mach 6 component integration tests are presented.

Andrews, E. H., Jr.↗

An inlet analysis for the NASA hypersonic research engine aerothermodynamic integration model

A theoretical analysis for the inlet of the NASA Hypersonic Research Engine (HRE) Aerothermodynamic Integration Model (AIM) has been undertaken by use of a method-of-characteristics computer program. The purpose of the analysis was to obtain pretest information on the full-scale HRE inlet in support of the experimental AIM program (completed May 1974). Mass-flow-ratio and additive-drag-coefficient schedules were obtained that well defined the range effected in the AIM tests. Mass-weighted average inlet total-pressure recovery, kinetic energy efficiency, and throat Mach numbers were obtained.

Andrews, E. H., Jr.↗