Evaluation of an Extendible Aerodynamic Drag Brake for Monorail Rocket Sleds

摘要

Velocity versus coast distance measurements on one monorail rocket sled were conducted to obtain quantitative information on the braking effectiveness of an extendible aerodynamic drag brake. The data were obtained by means of ribbon frame cameras and reduced to the form of drag coefficients for the rocket sled and aerodynamic drag brake. The drag brake as described has a drag coefficient of approximately 1.68 in the subsonic regime and approximately 1.8 in the supersonic regime. (Author)