Microparticle Quenching Strategies for Providing Continuous Communications Through Plasma During Hypersonic Flight

Hypersonic vehicles experience an extraordinarily harsh aerothermal environment and under some conditions, an ionized plasma layer may surround some parts of the vehicle. Free electrons, due to their relatively small mass, are able to rapidly reflect and/or absorb radio frequency communication signals below the so called cutoff frequency. In some cases, the cutoff frequency exceeds typical telemetry and GPS communication bands such that communication becomes "blacked" out. IERUS Technologies, Inc. proposes to use microparticle quenchants as a plasma mitigation strategy in combination with optimized antenna designs which compensate for the aerothermal environment. Approved for Public Release | 20-MDA-10643 (3 Dec 20)