Aerostat Payload Protection (APP) System

IERUS Technologies is pursuing development of an updated aerostat payload protection system to support both high value experimental and production fielded payloads. This system would allow for the safe return to ground and reuse of a payload after a deployed aerostat experiences a mission-terminating event. The proposed system and modeling tools will allow the mission planner or payload designer to choose an optimized payload recovery system for the specific payload and aerostat configuration chosen. This will enable shorter design cycles, while also improving the PSurvival for the payload during a recovery event.  In the execution of this program, IERUS will apply our experience in Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and aero-structure design to generate a modeling tool for protection system design, and then anchor the tool by performing experimental drops using a variety of different drag structures and structural crush zones. This model will allow for mission designers and aerostat integrators to more easily determine the most optimal protection systems for payloads moving forward. While IERUS accepts that it is not possible to design a system that ensure 100% PSurvival, we believe that the combination of an anchored MBSE model along with novel design techniques will allow for significant increases in payload reuse after mission-terminating events. This will drive down overall development costs by minimizing total system weight while ensuring recovery systems are optimized for the specific payloads deployed. Integration timelines may also be reduced through creation of a tool that captures the key design parameters of interest to the integrated system that drive the decisions on the implementation of specific recovery solutions.