A separation system was designed for the X-38 experimental crew return vehicle program to allow the Deorbit Propulsion Stage (DPS) to separate from the X-38 lifting body during reentry operations. The configuration chosen was a spring-loaded plunger, known as the Bolt Retractor Subsystem (BRS), that retracts each of the six DPS-to-lifting body attachment bolts across the interface plane after being triggered by a separation nut mechanism. The system was designed to function on the ground in an atmospheric environment as well as in space. The BRS provides the same functionality as that of a completely pyrotechnic shear separation system that would normally be considered ideal for this application, but at a much lower cost. This system also could potentially be applied to future space station crew return vehicles. The design goal of 40 ms retraction time was successfully met in a series of demonstrations performed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center s Pyrotechnic Shock Facility (PSF) and Flight Robotics Laboratory (FRL). It must be emphasized that a full-scale test series was not performed on the BRS due to program schedule and cost constraints.


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    Title :

    Design and Demonstration of Bolt Retractor Separation System for X-38 Deorbit Propulsion Stage


    Contributors:
    R. Ahmed (author) / A. S. Johnston (author) / J. C. Garrison (author) / J. L. Gaines (author) / J. D. Waggoner (author)

    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    8 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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