Kinetic Energy Kill Vehicles and Components

Kinetic Energy Kill Vehicles represent an integration of precision guidance and propulsion control subsystems. In Phase I, Quoin investigated potential system integration issues dealing with seeker IR background radiation due to exhaust luminosity of thedivert and attitude control thrusters. Specifically, Quoin investigated soot reduction filters for the hot gas flow; however, we also investigated a means of eliminating the flow entirely by extinguishing the gas generator. The conclusion of the Phase Ieffort was that extinguishing the gas generator for the majority of the flight would eliminate the possibility of interaction of the thruster exhaust with the IR seeker. In addition, we defined a control system based on flywheel attitude control that willprovide for the gas generator shut down and generate electrical power for future guidance system improvements such as active electrical power for future guidance system improvements such as active radar sensors. Quoin demonstrated the feasibility of usingtwo flywheels to provide three-axis attitude control in a single degree of freedom demonstration. The proposed phase II effort will concentrate on developing the flywheel ACS through detailed simulations of the KKV and solid model representations of thetwo-flywheel control and power system. Testing results of first and second-generation hardware prototypes for Quion's flywheel ACD will validate these simulations.The ability to provide attitude control and electrical power generation will eliminate heavybatteries currently required. Commercial applications exist for the flywheel and other components developed under this program.