= Trim Angle of Attack.pdfVIP

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 1 Neptune Aerocapture Systems Analysis Mary Kae Lockwood* NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, 23681-2199 A Neptune Aerocapture Systems Analysis is completed to determine the feasibility, bene- fit and risk of an aeroshell aerocapture system for Neptune and to identify technology gaps and technology performance goals. The high fidelity systems analysis is completed by a five center NASA team and includes the following disciplines and analyses: science; mission de- sign; aeroshell configuration screening and definition; interplanetary navigation analyses; atmosphere modeling; computational fluid dynamics for aerodynamic performance and da- tabase definition; initial stability analyses; guidance development; atmospheric flight simula- tion; computational fluid dynamics and radiation analyses for aeroheating environment definition; thermal protection system design, concepts and sizing; mass properties; struc- tures; spacecraft design and packaging; and mass sensitivities. Results show that aerocapture can deliver 1.4 times more mass to Neptune orbit than an all-propulsive system for the same launch vehicle. In addition aerocapture results in a 3-4 year reduction in trip time compared to all-propulsive systems. Aerocapture is feasible and performance is adequate for the Neptune aerocapture mission. Monte Carlo simulation re- sults show 100% successful capture for all cases including conservative assumptions on at- mosphere and navigation. Enabling technologies for this mission include TPS manufactur- ing; and aerothermodynamic methods and validation for determining coupled 3-D convec- tion, radiation and ablation aeroheating rates and loads, and the effects on surface recession. Symbols/Nomenclature A = Area (m2) αtrim = Trim Angle of Attack CA = Axial Force Coefficient CBE = Current Best Estimate CD = Coefficient of Drag CFD = Computational Fluid Dynamics CG, cg = Center of Gravity