Key Takeaways
- Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists are testing a new deployable heat shield concept using a suborbital rocket launch
- The heat shield is designed to protect payloads from excessive reentry heating and slow down the descent of deployed payloads
- The launch was conducted in collaboration with commercial partner UP Aerospace and Redwire Space, with assistance from NASA’s Ames Research Center
- The rocket reached a height of 72 miles above the Earth and deployed the heat shield, which descended and impacted the surface
- The recovered vehicle showed no damage, thanks to its slowed descent from the folded, origami-inspired design
Introduction to the Launch
Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists are examining data from a successful suborbital rocket launch conducted to test a new deployable heat shield concept. The laboratory, in conjunction with commercial partner UP Aerospace, conducted the launch at Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA, last November. The heat shield was developed in collaboration with Redwire Space with assistance from NASA’s Ames Research Center. This launch marks a significant milestone in the development of new technologies for space exploration, and the data collected will be crucial in understanding the effectiveness of the heat shield concept.
The Heat Shield Concept
The heat-shield structure is designed to protect the payload from excessive reentry heating. During ascent, the vehicle was released from the rocket’s nose fairing and deployed its experimental heat shield. The shield also serves to slow the descent of the deployed payload by using a folded metal structure that opens like an umbrella, ensuring the payload can survive the drop, which can reach speeds greater than 2,000mph (3,219km). This innovative design allows for a controlled descent, reducing the risk of damage to the payload. The heat shield’s ability to slow down the descent is a critical aspect of its design, as it enables the payload to survive the harsh conditions of reentry.
The Launch and Recovery
"The launch director let me flip the switch to fire the rocket," said Jim Wren, Los Alamos National Laboratory’s project lead for the launch. "I was really pleased with how smoothly everything went." UP Aerospace developed the rocket that transported the experimental heat shield into space. The SpaceLoft-XL 18 is a suborbital research rocket designed to carry scientific instruments or experimental payloads into the upper atmosphere or near space for short-duration missions before returning to Earth. The rocket travelled to a height of around 72 miles (116km) above the Earth, deployed the heat shield, which then descended and impacted the surface. Cameras, tracking and monitoring systems on the heat shield captured data during the 11-minute flight. The recovery team retrieved the experiment and other pieces of the rocket, and scientists say the recovered vehicle did not have damage, thanks to its slowed descent from the folded, origami-inspired design.
The Benefits of Rapid Launches
The launch is the sixth flight test in a series conducted in New Mexico since 2021. "We’re able to test sensors and new experiments with these rapid launches that can take place approximately every six months instead of traditional rocket launches, which are much more expensive and can only be conducted once every few years," Wren said. This rapid launch capability enables scientists to test and iterate on new technologies quickly, reducing the time and cost associated with traditional launch methods. Los Alamos engineer Justin McGlown, senior project leader for Agile Space, noted, "All the things that are required to survive the actual flight environment are hard to re-create without a flight environment. Now that we have these commercial rocket companies providing us frequent affordable flights, it’s just much faster to build something, instrument it, fly it and test it, and then iterate and improve."
The Role of Spaceport America
Spaceport America is a state-owned, commercial launch and flight testing facility that enables both private spaceflight and federally sponsored rocket testing, as well as aerospace research. UP Aerospace maintains a launch complex and payload processing center at the spaceport. The facility provides a unique opportunity for scientists and engineers to test and develop new technologies, such as the deployable heat shield concept. The collaboration between Los Alamos National Laboratory, UP Aerospace, and Redwire Space demonstrates the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing space technology. The success of this launch and the data collected will pave the way for future developments in heat shield technology and reentry systems.