Cost Effective TPS Technology for Hypersonic Applications

This Phase II proposal is being submitted to extend the Phase I STTR program objectives and further develop and mature low-cost TPS technologies for hypersonic systems.Ā The Phase I objectives included initial performance and supply chain assessments of low-cost TPS solutions for hypersonic systems to include ballistic reentry systems, maneuvering reentry systems, and short glide HGVs with limited endoatmospheric durations enabling low cost ablative TPS solutions.Ā The Phase I metrics captured included aerothermal performance, TPS component cost, and domestic supply chain resilience and scale up providing the foundation for further development and refinements for prototype system design and test under the Phase II.Ā The Phase II activities include 4 primary objectives.Objective 1: Concept Operational System Mission AnalysisObjective 2: Aeroshell TPS Performance AssessmentObjective 3: Supply Chain AssessmentObjective 4: Concept Flight Vehicle DesignThese objectives correspond to the flight system development process used to develop prototype flight systems and mature TPS technologies.Ā The Phase II activities address this process starting with Objective 1 - Mission Analysis where system requirements and flight environments will be defined.Ā Objective 2 will be performed capturing the analytic model develop of the concept operational vehicle and corresponding low-cost TPS design.Ā This will include ground test and evaluation of the TPS to develop and validate flight design models.Ā Objective 3 will be focused on refining the Phase I products in supply chain assessment providing details on raw materials selection through full manufacturing and component delivery of flight vehicle TPS.Ā These activities will provide the Government with an understanding of the supply chain risk and costs associated with production of low-cost TPS for hypersonic systems. Objective 4 will be performed investigating concept flight vehicle designs required to verify low-cost TPS system performance in relevant flight environments.Ā The resulting designs can be leveraged under follow-on activities to manufacture and assemble flight vehicles for testing on the OSD TRMC MACH-TB Program or other relevant flight test programs.Ā An overview of these objectives is provided below.