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Full-Text Articles in Aerospace Engineering
Absolute Number Density Measurements Of Atomic Species In Air And Nitrogen Plasmas, Jeffrey C. Schindler
Absolute Number Density Measurements Of Atomic Species In Air And Nitrogen Plasmas, Jeffrey C. Schindler
Graduate College Dissertations and Theses
A vehicle reentering Earth's atmosphere at hypersonic velocities violently compresses the air in front of it, creating a shell of plasma at the surface. This plasma imparts energy onto the vehicle's surface via convective, radiative, and chemical heating. Currently, large uncertainties in measurements of surface reaction rates lead to over-designed thermal protection systems. Improvements in the precision of these measurements could substantially decrease the weight of the heat shield, freeing up space for additional fuel or human/scientific payload. This work aims to improve current methods for measurements of atomic number densities in plasmas, so that they may be applied to …
Carbon Monoxide Measurements In A Co2 Plasma Using Two-Photon Laser Induced Fluorescence, Brandon Voll
Carbon Monoxide Measurements In A Co2 Plasma Using Two-Photon Laser Induced Fluorescence, Brandon Voll
Graduate College Dissertations and Theses
Uncertainties in surface catalytic reaction rates in a CO2 plasma have led to overdesign of thermal protection systems, which has caused planetary entry vehicles for the Martian atmosphere to be heavier than necessary. This, in turn, has decreased the available payload of various missions. A better understanding of these reaction rates will allow more precise development of thermal protection systems leading to safer and more effective atmospheric entry vehicles. Near wall measurements in a plasma facility using laser spectroscopic techniques with sub-millimeter spatial resolution provide a method to determine surface-catalyzed reaction efficiencies over metallic surfaces. The present work includes laser …
Characterization Of Pressure And Temperature Reactions In An On-Demand Pressurization System For Small Satellite Propulsion, Anna M. Humphreys
Characterization Of Pressure And Temperature Reactions In An On-Demand Pressurization System For Small Satellite Propulsion, Anna M. Humphreys
Graduate College Dissertations and Theses
With the popularity of small satellites on the rise in the aerospace industry, the need for propulsion systems developed specifically for small satellite applications is ever-present. An emerging subsection of the small satellite field is CubeSats, which are cubic satellites measuring 10cm per side and weighing less than 1.33kg. At launch, CubeSats are fixed to a larger rocket but are deployed once in orbit and must rely on their own propulsion system for orbit control and maneuverability. While propulsion systems exist for rockets and satellites that are orders of magnitude larger, these traditional systems are often too bulky and complex …