HIGH-ACCURACY, LOW-COST FIBER OPTIC RECESSION AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR SYSTEMAND DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS

K Sciences proposes the development of a novel prototype, fiber optic recession and temperature sensor (FORTS) designed specifically to support NASArsquo;s thermal protection systems (TPS) for future planetary missions. This proposal of the FORTS system details an erosion measurement system and method which is capable of precisely determining the change in length of ablative heat shielding and in addition providing an optical measurement of high temperature erosion environments applicable to thermal protection systems in ablative heat shields and solid and liquid rocket motors. The minimally intrusive fiber optic probe can be designed to closely match the TPS ablation properties and extremely elevated temperature environment. The FORTS is capable of continuous, real-time, high-speed, monitoring of the recession rate and ablation zone temperature in entry vehicles, projectiles, and hypersonic flight vehicles. The supporting data acquisition (DAQ) system will be designed to be modular to accommodate various TPS configurations and missions requiring various combinations of sensor inputs. The FORTS system provides an innovative approach to meet NASArsquo;s requirements and is anticipated to perform a continuous recession rate measurement through any TPS thickness, at a length resolution of plusmn;1 mm, an ablation temperature measurement from 600 deg;C to 4500 deg;C, with a minimally intrusive sensor probe lt;500 micro;m cross-section and post manufacture component installation, and high temperature operation and survivability.