Research into the use of kinetic energy weapons (KEWs) for the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's (SDIO) Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP) program has led to various designs for advanced, rocket controlled kinetic kill vehicles (KKVs). With the development of these high performance vehicles, the need arose for an extensive ground test program to reduce the risks associated with final qualification space flights. With this low risk, observable ground test philosophy in mind, the National Hover Test Facility (NHTF) was selected as the location of the first full up test operations of the LEAP designs. The primary objective of testing space interceptors in a ground based, controlled hover flight environment is to verify complete and full up operations and performance of all subsystems functioning in unison as an integrated interceptor prior to committing to a space test. The NHTFs test schedule for 1991 revealed a full calendar with a barrage of tests planned in support of the various phases of the LEAP program. The primary LEAP support plan consisted of the first full up checkouts of two entirely different flight vehicles as the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force developed their own projectiles with specific missions in mind. This paper will address the NHTFs support to the SDIO's LEAP program by detailing the events involved in the ground testing phase of the program and highlighting results of this extensive testing.


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    Titel :

    Ground Testing Kinetic Energy Projectiles for the Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP) Program


    Beteiligte:
    T. E. Webber (Autor:in) / K. D. Flint (Autor:in)

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    1992


    Format / Umfang :

    7 pages


    Medientyp :

    Report


    Format :

    Keine Angabe


    Sprache :

    Englisch