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NASA NTRS2020

ASPIRE Parachute Modeling and Comparison to Post-Flight Reconstruction

The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research and Experiment (ASPIRE) was a series of sounding rocket flights aimed at understanding the dynamics of supersonic parachutes that are used for Mars robotic applications. Three flights for ASPIRE occurred off the coast of Wallops Island, VA in Oct. 2017, Mar. 2018, and Sept. 2018 and successfully demonstrated deployment and inflation of the Mars Science Laboratory and Mars 2020 mission parachute. Prior to all three flights, a multi-body flight dynamics simulation was developed to predict the parachute dynamics and was used, in conjunction with other tools, to target Mars-relevant flight conditions. After each flight, the reconstructed trajectory was used to validate the preflight dynamics simulation and recommend changes to improve predictions for future flights in the ASPIRE program. This paper describes the parachute models and flight mechanics simulation used to target conditions for the three flights and the post-flight comparison of the tools.

Soumyo Dutta↗
NASA NTRS2016

Reconstructed Parachute System Performance During the Second LDSD Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test

NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerators project (LDSD) has developed and tested four new aerodynamic decelerator technologies for future Mars missions: two attached toroidal inflatable decelerators, a ballute, and a large supersonic parachute. On June 8, 2015, the project conducted a high-altitude, supersonic flight test of a 30.5-meter supersonic Ringsail (SSRS) canopy at the US Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, HI. This test, the second in a series of Supersonic Flight Dynamics Tests (SFDT-2), allowed the LDSD project to test the deployment and performance of its parachute decelerator system in the wake of a representative test vehicle (a 4.7-meter aeroshell and 6-meter toroidal inflatable aerodynamic decelerator) at conditions relevant to Mars entry for the second time. The parachute decelerator system consisted of the SSRS main parachute and a 4.4-meter ballute (called the parachute deployment device, or PDD) for its extraction. The ballute was mortar-deployed at a Mach number of 2.78 and a dynamic pressure of 493 Pa, and inflated with the aid of a water-methanol based gas generator. After flying in the wake of the test vehicle for ten seconds, the PDD was released and allowed to extract the main parachute pack. The SSRS reached line-stretch at a Mach number of 2.37 and dynamic pressure of 602 Pa. Following full inflation, the propagation of a tear in the canopy led to the failure of the parachute skirt band and to the subsequent failure of the vent band. The test vehicle was instrumented with load sensors, inertial sensors, and high-speed and high resolution cameras that provided data on the performance of the PDD and SSRS through deployment, inflation, and flight. This paper describes the resulting reconstructed behavior of the PDD and SSRS during deployment and inflation, their aerodynamic performance on SFDT-2, the failure of the SSRS shortly after full inflation, and the LDSD project’s investigation into its underlying causes.

O'Farrell, Clara↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

ASPIRE Aerodynamic Models and Flight Performance

The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiments (ASPIRE) project was launched in 2016 to develop a capability for testing supersonic parachutes at Mars-relevant conditions. Three parachute tests successfully tested two candidate parachute designs and qualified a parachute for NASA’s Mars 2020 mission (that successfully delivered Perseverance rover to the surface of Mars in Feb 2021). To achieve Mars-relevant densities, these parachutes were deployed at targeted conditions at high altitudes over Earth, launched via sounding rockets. ASPIRE Flight Tests provided valuable data on parachute inflation, forces, and aerodynamic behavior. Design of the flight tests depended on flight mechanics simulations which in turn required aerodynamic models for the payload, and the parachute. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to generate these models pre-flight and they are compared against the flight data after the tests. This talk will go over some aspects of the test design, development of pre-flight models, and comparison with flight test data.

Flight Test↗
NASA NTRS2019

ASPIRE Aerodynamic Models and Flight Performance

The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiments (ASPIRE) project waslaunched to develop the capability for testing supersonic parachutes at Mars-relevant conditions.Three initial parachute tests, targeted as a risk-reduction activity for NASA's upcoming Mars2020 mission, successfully tested two candidate parachute designs and provided valuable data onparachute inflation, forces, and aerodynamic behavior. Design of the flight tests depended onflight mechanics simulations which in turn required aerodynamic models for the payload, andthe parachute. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to generate these models preflightand they are compared against the flight data after the tests. For the payload, thereconstructed aerodynamic behavior is close to the pre-flight predictions, but the uncertaintiesin the reconstructed data are high due to the low dynamic pressures and accelerations duringthe flight period of comparison. For the parachute, the predicted time to inflation agrees wellwith the pre-flight model; the peak aerodynamic force and the steady state drag on the parachuteare within the bounds of the pre-flight models, even as the models over-predict the parachutedrag at supersonic Mach numbers. Notably, the flight data do not show the transonic dragdecrease predicted by the pre-flight model. The ASPIRE flight tests provide previouslyunavailable valuable data on the performance of a large full-scale parachute behind a slenderleading body at Mars-relevant Mach number, dynamic pressure and parachute loads. TheASPIRE results are used to propose a new model for the parachute drag behind slender bodiesto aid future experiments.

Muppidi, Suman↗
NASA NTRS2015

Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test: Trajectory, Atmosphere, and Aerodynamics Reconstruction

The Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test is a full-scale flight test of a Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, which is part of the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator technology development project. The purpose of the project is to develop and mature aerodynamic decelerator technologies for landing large mass payloads on the surface of Mars. The technologies include a Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator and Supersonic Parachutes. The first Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test occurred on June 28th, 2014 at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. This test was used to validate the test architecture for future missions. The flight was a success and, in addition, was able to acquire data on the aerodynamic performance of the supersonic inflatable decelerator. This paper describes the instrumentation, analysis techniques, and acquired flight test data utilized to reconstruct the vehicle trajectory, atmosphere, and aerodynamics. The results of the reconstruction show significantly higher lofting of the trajectory, which can partially be explained by off-nominal booster motor performance. The reconstructed vehicle force and moment coefficients fall well within pre-flight predictions. A parameter identification analysis indicates that the vehicle displayed greater aerodynamic static stability than seen in pre-flight computational predictions and ballistic range tests.

Kutty, Prasad↗
NASA NTRS1960

Tests of Vortex-Ring Parachute at Supersonic Speed in the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel

For the test, the 12-inch-diameter "Vortex-Ring" parachute was towed behind a conical-nosed cylindrical body 2.25 inches in diameter. The tow-cable length was 24 inches, and was attached to the cylindrical body through a large swivel and to the parachute through a smaller swivel. The attachment between the large swivel an the cylindrical body failed after about 1 minute's operation. Mach number was approximately 2.2, dynamic pressure was approximately 150 pounds per square foot, and camera speed was approximately 3000 frames per second.

SUPERSONIC SPEED↗
NASA NTRS2018

ASPIRE Aerodynamic Models and Flight Performance

NASA's Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiments (ASPIRE) project was established to test full-scale supersonic parachutes at Mars-relevant conditions, as a risk-reduction activity for NASA's upcomingMars2020 mission. Deployment and inflation of Disk-Gap-Band (DGB) parachutes were examined at Mach number and dynamic pressure conditions relevant to Mars2020, using a sounding rocket platform. The flight tests examined two parachutes: a build-to-print version of the parachute used by the Mars Science Laboratory and a strengthened version of this parachute that has the same geometry but differs in materials and construction. The first flight test (SR01) of the built-to-print parachute took place on October 4, 2017, followed by the first test of the strengthened parachute during flight SR02 on March 31, 2018. A second test of the strengthened parachute with a higher target load, SR03, took place on September 7, 2018. Over the sequence of the three tests, the parachute was exposed to increasing aerodynamic loads with the peak load during SR03 being significantly larger than is expected during a Martian descent. All three tests were successful: the parachute deployment and inflation occurred at the intended conditions, the measurement systems performed as designed and provided the data, and the parachutes survived the aerodynamic loads they were exposed to. The flight tests yielded valuable data on parachute forces and high-speed imagery of the deployment and inflation process.

Parachute↗
NASA NTRS2019

ASPIRE Aerodynamic Models and Flight Performance

The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiments (ASPIRE) project waslaunched to develop the capability for testing supersonic parachutes at Mars-relevant conditions.Three initial parachute tests, targeted as a risk-reduction activity for NASA's upcomingMars2020 mission, successfully tested two candidate parachute designs and provided valuabledata on parachute inflation, forces, and aerodynamic behavior. Design of the flight tests dependedon flight mechanics simulations which in turn required aerodynamic models for the payload, andthe parachute. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to generate these models preflightand are compared against the flight data after the tests. For the payload, the reconstructedaerodynamic behavior is close to the pre-flight predictions, but the uncertainties in thereconstructed data are high due to the low dynamic pressures and accelerations during the flightperiod of comparison. For the parachute, the predicted time to inflation agrees well with the preflightmodel; the peak aerodynamic force and the steady state drag on the parachute are withinthe bounds of the pre-flight models, even as the models over-predict the parachute drag atsupersonic Mach numbers. Notably, the flight data does not show the transonic drag decreasepredicted by the pre-flight model. The ASPIRE flight tests provide previously unavailablevaluable data on the performance of a large full-scale parachute behind a slender leading bodyat Mars-relevant Mach number, dynamic pressure and parachute loads. This data is used topropose a new model for the parachute drag behind slender bodies to aid future experiments.

Muppidi, Suman↗
NASA NTRS2018

ASPIRE Flight Mechanics Modeling and Post Flight Analysis

The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research and Experiment (ASPIRE) is a series of sounding rocket flights aimed at understanding the dynamics of supersonic parachutes that are used for Mars robotic applications. SR01 was the first sounding rocket flight of ASPIRE that occurred off the coast of Wallops Island, VA on Oct. 4, 2017 and showed the successful deployment and inflation of a Mars Science Laboratory built-to- print parachute in flight conditions similar to the 2012 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. SR02 was the second sounding rocket flight that also occurred off the coast of Wallops Island on March 31, 2018 and showcased the successful deployment and inflation of a new strengthened parachute being considered for the Mars 2020 mission at fifty percent higher dynamic pressure than observed on MSL. Prior to both flights, a multi-body flight dynamics simulation was developed to predict the parachute dynamics and was used, in conjunction with other tools, to target Mars-relevant flight conditions. After each flight, the reconstructed trajectory was used to validate the pre-flight dynamics simulation and recommend changes to improve predictions for future flights planned for the ASPIRE pro- gram. This paper describes the flight mechanics simulation and the post flight reconciliation process used to validate the flight models.

Dutta, Soumyo↗
NASA NTRS2013

Aerodynamic Stability and Performance of Next-Generation Parachutes for Mars Descent

The Low Density Supersonic Decelerator Project is developing a next-generation supersonic parachute for use on future Mars missions. In order to determine the new parachute configuration, a wind tunnel test was conducted at the National Full-scale Aerodynamics Complex 80- by 120-foot Wind Tunnel at the NASA Ames Research Center. The goal of the wind tunnel test was to quantitatively determine the aerodynamic stability and performance of various canopy configurations in order to help select the design to be flown on the Supersonic Flight Dynamics tests. Parachute configurations included the diskgap- band, ringsail, and ringsail-variant designs referred to as a disksail and starsail. During the wind tunnel test, digital cameras captured synchronized image streams of the parachute from three directions. Stereo hotogrammetric processing was performed on the image data to track the position of the vent of the canopy throughout each run. The position data were processed to determine the geometric angular history of the parachute, which were then used to calculate the total angle of attack and its derivatives at each instant in time. Static and dynamic moment coefficients were extracted from these data using a parameter estimation method involving the one-dimensional equation of motion for a rotation of parachute. The coefficients were calculated over all of the available canopy states to reconstruct moment coefficient curves as a function of total angle of attack. From the stability curves, useful metrics such as the trim total angle of attack and pitch stiffness at the trim angle could be determined. These stability metrics were assessed in the context of the parachute's drag load and geometric porosity. While there was generally an inverse relationship between the drag load and the stability of the canopy, the data showed that it was possible to obtain similar stability properties as the disk-gap-band with slightly higher drag loads by appropriately tailoring the geometric porosity distribution.

Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD)↗
NASA NTRS2007

Mars Science Laboratory: Entry, Descent, and Landing System Performance

In 2010, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission will pioneer the next generation of robotic Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) systems, by delivering the largest and most capable rover to date to the surface of Mars. To do so, MSL will fly a guided lifting entry at a lift-to-drag ratio in excess of that ever flown at Mars, deploy the largest parachute ever at Mars, and perform a novel Sky Crane maneuver. Through improved altitude capability, increased latitude coverage, and more accurate payload delivery, MSL is allowing the science community to consider the exploration of previously inaccessible regions of the planet. The MSL EDL system is a new EDL architecture based on Viking heritage technologies and designed to meet the challenges of landing increasing massive payloads on Mars. In accordance with level-1 requirements, the MSL EDL system is being designed to land an 850 kg rover to altitudes as high as 1 km above the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter defined areoid within 10 km of the desired landing site. Accordingly, MSL will enter the largest entry mass, fly the largest 70 degree sphere-cone aeroshell, generate the largest hypersonic lift-to-drag ratio, and deploy the largest Disk-Gap-Band supersonic parachute of any previous mission to Mars. Major EDL events include a hypersonic guided entry, supersonic parachute deploy and inflation, subsonic heatshield jettison, terminal descent sensor acquisition, powered descent initiation, sky crane terminal descent, rover touchdown detection, and descent stage flyaway. Key performance metrics, derived from level-1 requirements and tracked by the EDL design team to indicate performance capability and timeline margins, include altitude and range at parachute deploy, time on radar, and propellant use. The MSL EDL system, which will continue to develop over the next three years, will enable a notable extension in the advancement of Mars surface science by delivering more science capability than ever before to the surface of Mars. This paper describes the current MSL EDL system performance as predicted by end-to-end EDL simulations, highlights the sensitivity of this baseline performance to several key environmental assumptions, and discusses some of the challenges faced in delivering such an unprecedented rover payload to the surface of Mars.

Way, David W.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Mars Science Laboratory: Entry, Descent, and Landing System Performance

In 2010, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission will pioneer the next generation of robotic Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) systems, by delivering the largest and most capable rover to date to the surface of Mars. To do so, MSL will fly a guided lifting entry at a lift-to-drag ratio in excess of that ever flown at Mars, deploy the largest parachute ever at Mars, and perform a novel Sky Crane maneuver. Through improved altitude capability, increased latitude coverage, and more accurate payload delivery, MSL is allowing the science community to consider the exploration of previously inaccessible regions of the planet. The MSL EDL system is a new EDL architecture based on Viking heritage technologies and designed to meet the challenges of landing increasing massive payloads on Mars. In accordance with level-1 requirements, the MSL EDL system is being designed to land an 850 kg rover to altitudes as high as 1 km above the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter defined areoid within 10 km of the desired landing site. Accordingly, MSL will enter the largest entry mass, fly the largest 70 degree sphere-cone aeroshell, generate the largest hypersonic lift-to-drag ratio, and deploy the largest Disk-Gap-Band supersonic parachute of any previous mission to Mars. Major EDL events include a hypersonic guided entry, supersonic parachute deploy and inflation, subsonic heatshield jettison, terminal descent sensor acquisition, powered descent initiation, sky crane terminal descent, rover touchdown detection, and descent stage flyaway. Key performance metrics, derived from level-1 requirements and tracked by the EDL design team to indicate performance capability and timeline margins, include altitude and range at parachute deploy, time on radar, and propellant use. The MSL EDL system, which will continue to develop over the next three years, will enable a notable extension in the advancement of Mars surface science by delivering more science capability than ever before to the surface of Mars. This paper describes the current MSL EDL system performance as predicted by end-to-end EDL simulations, highlights the sensitivity of this baseline performance to several key environmental assumptions, and discusses some of the challenges faced in delivering such an unprecedented rover payload to the surface of Mars.

Way, David W.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Summary of the First High-Altitude, Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test for the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator Project

NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator Project is developing and testing the next generation of supersonic aerodynamic decelerators for planetary entry. A key element of that development is the testing of full-scale articles in conditions relevant to their intended use, primarily the tenuous Mars atmosphere. To achieve this testing, the LDSD project developed a test architecture similar to that used by the Viking Project in the early 1970's for the qualification of their supersonic parachute. A large, helium filled scientific balloon is used to hoist a 4.7 m blunt body test vehicle to an altitude of approximately 32 kilometers. The test vehicle is released from the balloon, spun up for gyroscopic stability, and accelerated to over four times the speed of sound and an altitude of 50 kilometers using a large solid rocket motor. Once at those conditions, the vehicle is despun and the test period begins. The first flight of this architecture occurred on June 28th of 2014. Though primarily a shake out flight of the new test system, the flight was also able to achieve an early test of two of the LDSD technologies, a large 6 m diameter Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (SIAD) and a large, 30.5 m nominal diameter supersonic parachute. This paper summarizes this first flight.

Clark, Ian G.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Verification and Validation Testing of the Parachute Decelerator System Prior to the First Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test for the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator Program

The Parachute Decelerator System (PDS) is comprised of all components associated with the supersonic parachute and its associated deployment. During the Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test (SFDT), for the Low Density Supersonic Decelerators Program, the PDS was required to deploy the supersonic parachute in a defined fashion. The PDS hardware includes three major subsystems that must function together. The first subsystem is the Parachute Deployment Device (PDD), which acts as a modified pilot deployment system. It is comprised of a pyrotechnic mortar, a Kevlar ballute, a lanyard actuated pyrotechnic inflation aid, and rigging with its associated thermal protection material (TPS). The second subsystem is the supersonic parachute deployment hardware. This includes all of the parachute specific rigging that includes the parachute stowage can and the rigging including TPS and bridle stiffeners for bridle management during deployment. The third subsystem is the Supersonic Parachute itself, which includes the main parachute and deployment bags. This paper summarizes the verification and validation of the deployment process, from the initialization of the PDS system through parachute bag strip that was done prior to the first SFDT.

Gallon, John C.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Overview of the ASPIRE project's supersonic flight tests of a strengthened DGB parachute

The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiments (ASPIRE) project is aimed at developing and exercising a capability for testing supersonic parachutes at Mars-relevant conditions. The initial flights for ASPIRE were targeted as a risk-reduction activity for NASA’s upcoming Mars2020 mission. For this effort, two candidate Disk-GapBand (DGB) parachute designs were tested at Mach number and dynamic pressure conditions relevant to Mars2020. The two parachutes under investigation were a build-to-print version of the DGB used by the Mars Science Laboratory and a strengthened version of this parachute that has the same geometry but differs in materials and construction.

Clark, Ian G.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Enabling Pinpoint Landing (PPL) on Mars

Pinpoint landing (PPL) missions will deliver about 1000 kg of useful payload to the surface of Mars. Mid-to-high latitude landing site compatibility is sought which should provide the means to land at sites up to 2.5 km above Mars mean surface altitude. A dispersion and control analysis process is presented which helps to identify the effects of PPL error drivers, quantify the effect of dispersions on landing error and quantify the landing position control capability/authority along the entry path. An entry/descent/landing (EDL) profile is provided. Guided aeroshell is the baseline for all candidate Mars atmospheric entry architectures. A two-stage architecture is considered for the aerodynamic decelerator descent phase: supersonic parachute plus guided subsonic parachute or high-Mach inflatable decelerator plus guided subsonic parachute. The powered descent phase uses propulsive descent stage for soft landing and final error reduction maneuvers. Studies have found that the aeroshell entry face dispersions can be large, but closed-loop guidance can null out resulting errors to within about 2 km. Additionally, projected parachute control is inadequate to correct worst case dispersions without wind forecast data. To mitigate the problems dispersions due to atmospheric uncertainty can be reduced by providing on-board external means to measure density and winds ahead of the vehicle, higher L/D control authority options for the subsonic parachute phase can be investigated, and decelerators with control authority options for the supersonic descent phase can be examined. A navigation error analysis and wind effects summary are included.

aerodynamic↗