Thermal Simulations and Experimental Tests to Support the Development of a Small Reusable Spacecraft

The rapid development of the space economy is posing big challenges, a major one being space debris mitigation. In this respect, the Horizon Europe EARS project aims to introduce the disruptive concept of reusability in the SmallSat market, taking a step towards a more sustainable exploitation of space. The main objective of EARS has been to outline the concept of operations (CONOPS) of a small reusable satellite and the maturation of the relevant key enabling technologies needed to guarantee safe re-entry of the satellite and its payload. In this paper, we present the preliminary design of the EARS spacecraft and its CONOPS and mission engineering with an overview of the simulations conducted to assess the aerodynamic load during spacecraft re-entry and the Plasmatron tests executed for the selection and characterization of the materials suitable for the construction of an inflatable thermal protection system to guarantee a safe atmospheric re-entry.