TY - GEN
T1 - Development of small winged rockets for suborbital technology demonstration by universities in collaboration with government and industries
AU - Yonemoto, Koichi
AU - Matsumoto, Takaaki
AU - Choudhuri, Ahsan R.
AU - Ishimoto, Shinji
AU - Mugitani, Takashi
AU - Makino, Takashi
AU - Kimoto, Kenichi
AU - Ogawa, Shuji
AU - Irino, Yasutaka
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) has been studying unmanned suborbital winged rocket and its research issues concerning aerodynamics, NGC (Navigation, Guidance and Control), cryogenic composite tanks etc. since 2005. In 2008, Kyutech first developed a small winged rocket called WIRES (Winged REusable Sounding rocket) #011, which has the total length of lm and initial mass of 8kg, and conducted its flight tests up to the altitude of 0.5km for 5 times in order to verify the attitude control performance of ascent phase. In 2010, Kyutech developed a conventional rocket called WIRES#012 to demonstrate the new flight termination and recovery system using two- stage parachute and airbags for the safety operation. WIRES#012 has the total length of 1.7m and initial mass of 34kg. The flight tests were completed in 2011 to reach the altitude of 0.8km and demonstrate the mechanical design of the flight termination and recovery system successfully. Since 2012, Kyutech is developing WIRES#014 to verify the technologies of on-board real-time guidance and attitude control system in collaboration with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). WIRES#014 is a larger winged rocket with total length of 1.7m and initial mass of 49kg, which is capable to reach the altitude of 1.7km propelled by a propulsion system of CAMUI (Cascaded Multistage Impinging-jet) hybrid rocket provided by Hokkaido University and Uematsu Electric Co., Ltd. Its first flight test was conducted in June 2013, but failed due to the malfunction of ADS (Air Data System). Kyutech is now underway of manufacturing next WIRES#014-2 by improving the technical problems that have been discovered by the post-flight analysis. Kyutech and University of Texas at El Paso have recently started the design of larger winged rocket WIRES#015 as a pre-demonstrator of suborbital vehicle WIRES-X in collaboration with JAXA, IHI and PD Aerospace. The purpose is to perform the maneuverability using the on-board and real-time guidance, advanced attitude control system by aerodynamic control surfaces and RCS (Reaction Control System) using Nitrogen Gas, and advanced hybrid and LOX-Methane engine. WIRES#015 has the total length of 4m and the weight of 500kg, and is capable to reach the altitude more than 6km. This paper introduces the strategic development plan of winged rockets up to the suborbital technology demonstration flight of WIRES-X by universities in collaboration with government and industries, as well as the past and current flight test results. The nearest goal of suborbital flight for technology demonstration will be 2018.
AB - Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) has been studying unmanned suborbital winged rocket and its research issues concerning aerodynamics, NGC (Navigation, Guidance and Control), cryogenic composite tanks etc. since 2005. In 2008, Kyutech first developed a small winged rocket called WIRES (Winged REusable Sounding rocket) #011, which has the total length of lm and initial mass of 8kg, and conducted its flight tests up to the altitude of 0.5km for 5 times in order to verify the attitude control performance of ascent phase. In 2010, Kyutech developed a conventional rocket called WIRES#012 to demonstrate the new flight termination and recovery system using two- stage parachute and airbags for the safety operation. WIRES#012 has the total length of 1.7m and initial mass of 34kg. The flight tests were completed in 2011 to reach the altitude of 0.8km and demonstrate the mechanical design of the flight termination and recovery system successfully. Since 2012, Kyutech is developing WIRES#014 to verify the technologies of on-board real-time guidance and attitude control system in collaboration with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). WIRES#014 is a larger winged rocket with total length of 1.7m and initial mass of 49kg, which is capable to reach the altitude of 1.7km propelled by a propulsion system of CAMUI (Cascaded Multistage Impinging-jet) hybrid rocket provided by Hokkaido University and Uematsu Electric Co., Ltd. Its first flight test was conducted in June 2013, but failed due to the malfunction of ADS (Air Data System). Kyutech is now underway of manufacturing next WIRES#014-2 by improving the technical problems that have been discovered by the post-flight analysis. Kyutech and University of Texas at El Paso have recently started the design of larger winged rocket WIRES#015 as a pre-demonstrator of suborbital vehicle WIRES-X in collaboration with JAXA, IHI and PD Aerospace. The purpose is to perform the maneuverability using the on-board and real-time guidance, advanced attitude control system by aerodynamic control surfaces and RCS (Reaction Control System) using Nitrogen Gas, and advanced hybrid and LOX-Methane engine. WIRES#015 has the total length of 4m and the weight of 500kg, and is capable to reach the altitude more than 6km. This paper introduces the strategic development plan of winged rockets up to the suborbital technology demonstration flight of WIRES-X by universities in collaboration with government and industries, as well as the past and current flight test results. The nearest goal of suborbital flight for technology demonstration will be 2018.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84938241280
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84938241280
T3 - Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
SP - 7536
EP - 7543
BT - 65th International Astronautical Congress 2014, IAC 2014
PB - International Astronautical Federation, IAF
T2 - 65th International Astronautical Congress 2014: Our World Needs Space, IAC 2014
Y2 - 29 September 2014 through 3 October 2014
ER -