Innovative Techniques for Missile Defense - Low-Shock Separation System

The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense kill vehicle launched by the Ground-Based Interceptor is sensitive to mechanical shock. The kill vehicle is subjected to mechanical shock when the shroud separates from the interceptor and when the second stage separates from the third stage. Both separation events are initiated by pyrotechnic devices. To increase the probability of the kill vehicle withstanding these shocks, various shock isolation and attenuation systems have been proposed. An alternate approach to protecting the kill vehicle is to reduce the shock generated by the separation systems. The reduction of the magnitude of these source shocks warrants further investigation. Starsys Research Corporation (SRC) specializes in the development and commercialization of low-shock separation system technologies. Under an on-going phase 1 SBIR with MDA, SRC is developing a low-shock separation technology that can be modified for direct application on the GMD vehicle to support a low-shock separation of the EKV. CSA-Engineering specializes in shock and vibration isolation technologies, and has already developed an isolator prototype for the EKV. Subsequently, SRC proposes providing MDA with an adapter that comprises both a low-shock separation of the EKV and isolation of the EKV from the GMD booster. This proposed phase 2 program will provide MDA with a PDR-level design of the adapter, with key technologies of the adapter verified at the prototype level. A phase 2 option has also been proposed to deliver MDA with a CDR-level design and a engineering development unit adapter that is ready for test flight.