To contribute to the certification of the structural integrity of the Space Shuttle orbiter's thermal protection system (TPS) before the first Shuttle flight, in-flight aerodynamic load tests of six simulated areas of the orbiter were conducted. The tests were performed on an F-104 and F-15 aircraft. This paper describes the test approach, techniques used, and results. Two areas of the orbiter TPS were redesigned and retested as a result of these tests. No TPS failures due to air-loads occurred in the areas that were evaluated in the flight tests during the Shuttle's first flight.
In-flight aerodynamic load testing of the Shuttle thermal protection system
Flight Testing Conference ; 1981 ; Las Vegas, NV
1981-11-01
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Aerodynamic flight testing of the Space Shuttle Orbiter
NTRS | 1985
|Aerodynamic Flight Testing of the Space Shuttle Orbiter
SAE Technical Papers | 1985
|