Design Development of an Advanced Composite Interceptor Nosecone for KEI

The proposed nosecone development effort will investigate application of the following component technologies to a ground base interceptor deployable nosecone for KEI: [1] an advanced ceramic resin matrix for the thermal protection system, [2] a low-shock nosecone separation system, [3] a lightweight composite assembly configuration and [4] integration of lightning/EMI shielding into the composite structure. In the assembly configuration, these kill vehicle protection components will consist of a non-ablating, rain-erosion resistant outer skin to serve as the TPS together with structural composite materials to satisfy the dynamic pressure environment associated with interceptor flight and nosecone petal deployment. In addition, the nosecone structure combined with the above-mentioned materials development will incorporate an active, low-shock nosecone removal technique. These material and component technologies will provide mission enabling capabilities for an interceptor nosecone that will operate at high velocity and require a non-ablating TPS that complies with performance requirements. Development of the nosecone assembly concept will be accomplished by conducting four tasks consisting of concept definition, materials and component design development, materials test and evaluation, and establishment of the nosecone assembly design configuration.