System and method for lift augmentation of atmospheric entry vehicles during aerocapture and entry, descent, and landing maneuvers
AssigneeUnited States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
InventorsRobert W. Moses, Foy M. Cheatwood, Christopher O. Johnston, Sergey Macheret, Bernard Parent, Justin Little
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control mechanism is described which substantially improves the existing processes in that smaller magnetic fields, requiring far less mass, are placed away from the forebody of the spacecraft to produce Lorentz forces that augment the lift and the drag forces for guidance, navigation, and control of the spacecraft.
Claims17
A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control system for use with an aeroshell of a spacecraft comprising:
- a first pair of electrodes configured for placement on a first predetermined portion of an outward facing surface of the aeroshell;
- a second pair of electrodes stacked on the first pair of electrodes, wherein individual electrodes from each of the first and second pair of electrodes partially overlap;
- and
- a magnet configured for placement on a second predetermined portion of an inward facing surface of the aeroshell.
An aeroshell for use with a spacecraft comprising:
- a blunt-body configuration;
- and
- at least one magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control patch for producing Lorentz forces that augment lift and the drag forces for assisting with at least one of guidance, navigation, and control of the spacecraft, the at least one MHD flow control patch including,
- a first pair of electrodes placed on a first predetermined portion of an outward facing surface of the aeroshell;
- a magnet placed on a second predetermined portion of an inward facing surface of the aeroshell, wherein the first predetermined portion and the second predetermined portion at least partially overlap on opposing surfaces of the aeroshell;
- and
- a second pair of electrodes stacked on the first pair of electrodes, wherein individual electrodes from each of the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes at least partially overlap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.