Minimum Accommodation for Aerobrake Assembly. Phase 2: Structural Concepts for aLunar Transfer Vehicle Aerobrake Which Can Be Assembled on Orbit

摘要

A multidisciplinary conceptual study was conducted to define a reusable lunartransfer vehicle (LTV) aerobrake which could be launched on a Space Shuttle of Titan 4 and assembled on orbit at Space Station Freedom. A major objective was to design an aerobrake, with integrated structure and thermal protection systems, which has a mass less than 20 percent (9040 lb) of the LTV lunar return mass. The aerobrake segmentation concepts, the structural concepts, a joint concept for assembly, and a structural design with analysis of the aerobrake are described. Results show that a 50-foot diameter LTV aerobrake can be designed for on-orbit assembly which will achieve the 20 percent mass budget.