Low Shock Stage Separation System For The KEI

The Kinetic Energy Interceptor is under severe aerodynamic, thermal, and self induced loading during rocket motor staging events. Aerodynamic forces, propulsion spikes, and explosive separation events can induce unrecoverable pitching moments or damaging shock levels on sensitive payload components. Systima has designed a low-shock, missile stage release system combined with an active (pyrotechnically driven) stage separation system. The Systima low-shock, stage separation system provides a rigid missile stage joint and yet allows stage separation to occur under aerodynamic environments not practical with conventional separation systems. Systima Technologies, Inc. (Systima), has teamed with San Diego Composites (SDC) and CRAFT Tech. to design/develop the low-shock stage separation system. Systima is responsible for the overall program and the design/development of the stage separation of the system. SDC is responsible for evaluating, designing, and developing lightweight and rigid composite missile stage joint structures. CRAFT Tech is performing comprehensive Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis to define separation system requirements and verify stage separation performance characteristics. The program includes fabrication and test of a full size, stage separation system. The end point of the Phase II program is a verified stage separation design along with the necessary test results for direct insertion into the KEI program.