Fast Running Re-Entry Vehicle (RV) Wake Signature Tools

The flight environment conditions encountered by re-entry vehicles (RVs) and RV associated spent boosters and flight hardware can produce complex wakes that are difficult to model. Under such high dynamic pressure and angle-of-attack (HDAOA) conditions, ablating heat shield material is entrained in the flow in the form of gases and particulates, and reactive chemistry between atmospheric and ablating species creates a complex, non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) environment that can also ionize. All these effects have a strong impact on the vehicle electro-optic/infrared and radar signatures, interfering with detection, tracking, targeting, and aim-point selection. Spectral Sciences, Inc. proposes to develop innovative fast running HDAOA wake signature modeling tools. In Phase I, candidate simulation methods will be assessed using SSIs existing high fidelity prediction tools to enable a practical and accurate simulation of the wake signature. In Phase II, the prototype software will be fully developed. The tool will be evaluated through comparison with high fidelity models and available measured data. A plan to integrate the software into the Optical Signatures Code (OSC) will be developed and implemented. Phase III will result in applying the software for government mission planning tools and continued validation with measured data. Approved for Public Release | 16-MDA-8917 (15 November 16)