Ta NACA RM L58E0' HD+ Je Le 56 GnmEne BM hse 2.0 AUG 199, jase 3 RESEARCH MEMORANDUM 413° 7 [Papomess STUDIES OF MANNED SATELLITES a occas CONFIGURATION: NONLIFTING Lenten Ass FEQ, by Maxime A. Faget, Benjamine J. Garland, and James J. Buglia _ Langley Aeronautical Leboratory ‘Langley Field, Va. fon rare mE . aoe re ear en ie sce | Sere NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS WASHINGTON August 11, 1958 1 AFMDC DAS "58-5990‘TECH LIBRARY KAFB, NM wc ese IU NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS RESEARCH MEMORANDUM PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF MANNED SATELLITES WINGLESS CONFIGURATION: NONLIFTING* By Maxime A. Faget, Benjamine J. Garland, end Jemes J. Buglia STORY This paper 1s concerned with the simple nonlifting satellite vehi- cle which follows a ballistic peth in reentering the atmosphere. An attractive feature of such @ vehicle is that the research and produc- tion experiences of the ballistic-missile prograns are applicable to ite design and construction, and since it follovs a ballistic path, there is a minimm requirement for autopilot, guidance, or control equipment. After comparing the loads thet would be attained with man's alloveble loads, and after examining the heating and dynemic problems of several specific shapes, it appears that, insofar as reentry and recovery is concerned, the state of the art is sufficiently advanced so that it is possible to proceed confidently with e mamed-satellite project based. upon the ballistic reentry type of vehicle. INTRODUCTION This paper is concerned with the simple nonlifting satellite vehicle which follows a ballistic path in reentering the atmosphere. An attrac- tive feature of such a vehicle is thet the research and production expe- riences of the ballistic-missile programs are applicable to its design and construction. The ballistic reentry vebicle also has certain attractive operational aspects which should be mentioned. Since it follows = bellistic path there is a minimm requirement for eutopilot, guidance, or control equip- nent. ‘This condition not only results in a weight saving but also elim- inates the hazerd of malfunction. In order to return to the earth from orbit, the ballistic reentry vehicle mst properly perform only one maneu- ver. This maneuver is the initiation of reentry by firing the retrogrede rocket. Once this maneuver is completed (and from a safety standpoint ‘itis, Unclassified AFMDG DAS °5B-59.9.02 a NAGA RM 1582078 alone 1t need not be done with a great deal of precision), the vehicle will enter the earth's atmosphere. ‘The success of the reentry is then dependent only upon the inherent stability and structural integrity of the vehicle. These are things of a passive nature and should be thor- oughly checked out prior to the first man-carrying flight. Against these advantages the disadvantage of large ares landing by perachute with no corrective control during the reentry mst be considered. In reference 1, Dean R. Chapman has shown that the minimm sever- ity of the deceleration encountered during a ballistic reentry is related to the fundamental nature of the planet. Thus it can be considered @ fortunate circumstance that man can tolerate this deceleration with sufficient engineering mergin. SYMBOLS L Litt D drag Ww weight Cy areg coefficient A cross-sectional erea (frontal) Cy, nomal-force coefficient slope per radian oy lift-coefficient slope per radian Ca, pitching-monent coefficient slope per redian, based on maximum diameter I moment of inertia (general) 2 mass P period a, normal acceleration ay acceleration (longitudinal) ez