The fragmentation of two aerospace aluminum alloys is investigated in a ground testing facility including mechanical loads as occurring due to aerodynamic forces in a real atmospheric entry event at three trajectory points. The emission spectroscopic analysis shows that these materials fail after distinct alkali metal features are observed in the spectra. The two alloys feature characteristic emissions of the different alkali metals. The presence of lithium lines that have previously been exclusively attributed to battery failure in observation campaigns may be considered as a marker for aluminum breakup. This is particularly interesting for future entry observations because it allows a new insight into the structural failure processes of the demising spacecraft. The lack of emissions of alloying elements points to these spectra being candidates for the determination of spacecraft demise. The identification of such features in ground testing will allow a more certain identification of specific breakup events.
Spectral Features for Reentry Breakup Event Identification
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets ; 59 , 5 ; 1496-1506
2022-05-31
11 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Orbital Spacecraft Reentry Breakup (IAA 99-6.7.04)
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2001
|REENTRY BREAKUP RECORDER: CONCEPT, TESTING, MOVING FORWARD
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2012
|Evaluation of Reentry Breakup and Debris Generation
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2012
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 2012
|