Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Engineering Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2003

Air Force Institute of Technology

Space weapons

Discipline

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Experimental Demonstration Of An Algorithm To Detect The Presence Of A Parasitic Satellite, Vincent J. Dabrowski Mar 2003

Experimental Demonstration Of An Algorithm To Detect The Presence Of A Parasitic Satellite, Vincent J. Dabrowski

Theses and Dissertations

Published reports of microsatellite weapons testing have led to a concern that some of these "parasitic" satellites could be deployed against US satellites to rendezvous dock and then disrupt, degrade disable or destroy the system. An effective detection method is essential. Various sensing solutions were investigated including visual, impact, and dynamic techniques. Dynamic detection, the most effective solution, was further explored. A detection algorithm was constructed and validated on the Air Force Institute of Technology's ground-based satellite simulator, SIMSAT. Results indicate that microsat microsatellites rigidly connected to a satellite can be detected with a series of small identical maneuvers utilizing …


Cold-Flow Testing Of A Subscale Model Exhaust System For A Space-Base Laser, Ian S. Bautista Mar 2003

Cold-Flow Testing Of A Subscale Model Exhaust System For A Space-Base Laser, Ian S. Bautista

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to continue a study of gas-dynamic phenomena that occurred in stacked cylindrical rings of nozzles and an exhaust manifold as reported by Captain Scott Bergren in 2002. The rings and exhaust manifold were part of a 1/5-scale model of one quadrant of the conceptual Space Based Laser Integrated Flight Experiment (SBL IFX) gas dynamic laser. This model was mated to a blow- down/vacuum wind tunnel and consisted of a nozzle array, centerbody, supersonic diffuser, and a transition structure to mate the vacuum and test section. During Capt Bergren's research, supersonic flow was found to …