Search for a command to run...
ICARUS is a project funded by the European Union’s HORIZON EUROPE program under the grant agree- ment No 101134997. It targets to bring up to TRL6 the maturation of enabling technologies in the field of re-usable space transportation systems, addressing the innovative re-entry solution based on Inflatable Heat Shields, deemed applicable for recovery of Launch Ve- hicles stages.This paper addresses the design and development of the Inflatable Structure and the associated Cool Gas Generator. An overview of a system featuring a single pressurized rotationally symmetric volume, inflated with the Cool Gas Generator, is presented. It is one of three key Inflatable Heat Shield technologies pursued in the ICARUS project, including the Flexible Thermal Pro- tection System, and Health Monitoring Sensors. Orbital and suborbital demonstrations, as well as conceptualiza- tion of the Inflatable Heat Shield to date, employ designs with multiple separated Inflatable Structure volumes. These include stacked toroidal configurations or sepa- rate conical volumes with toroidal back shells. The aero shape is formed with stored high-pressure inflation gas post-launch separation and pre-atmospheric re-entry of a re-entry vehicle. The separated volumes, and the gas storage system are areas where further simplification is realized in the ICARUS aero-demonstration mission.The cross-section around the axis of symmetry holds an inverse tear-drop shape with a toroidal back shell. The associated Cool Gas Generator, employing chemically stored gas in a solid state, produces pure gas at ambi- ent temperature and relatively low pressures. Gas is re- leased with a decomposition reaction. This innovative approach eliminates the need for high-pressure systems, reducing safety concerns at the launch site and minimiz- ing additional qualification efforts. The interface and in- teraction of the Inflatable Structure to the Cool Gas Gen- erator is investigated, having a two-stage inflation pro- cess at lower pressures first, and then higher pressures. To further support design decisions, a material selectionfor the Inflatable Structure is defined. This is aimed to evaluated mechanical and thermal material characteriza- tion, as well as breadboard leakage and deflection testing of material combinations and manufacturing techniques. Results are supported with numerical simulations.