Design, Development, and Testing of Research Payloads on Various Suborbital Flight-Test Platforms

<p>With recent advances in the commercial space industry, suborbital payload launches have become more common and accessible to researchers actively seeking solutions for problems involving prolonged space travel and future missions to Moon and Mars. Suborbital payload missions compared to orbital launches are less expensive and offer faster turnaround times; however, the novelty of this domain provides unique challenges. This multidisciplinary research effort aims to tackle some of these challenges by detailing the design, development, and testing techniques followed in the successful launch and recovery of payload experiments in currently active and upcoming suborbital launch vehicles. The research methodology involves collecting payload requirements, CAD design, computational analysis, mass optimization, 3D printing, vibration, and load testing, model rocketry development, simulation, and launch operations. Structural analysis using FEA and vibration testing on a shaker table shows the compliance of the payload prototypes in the maximum predicted flight environments. Multiphase CFD analysis is used as benchmarking technique to characterize the behavior of payloads containing liquids in microgravity. Hands-on model rocketry has proven as a valuable research platform for subsequent payload deliveries.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Year

2021

Author dc:creator

• Duraisamy, Vijay Vishal

• payloads
• suborbital
• launch vehicles
• Mechanical Engineering
• Space Vehicles

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/edt/608

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:edt-1619