After video analysis of space shuttle flight STS-107's ascent showed that an object shed from the bipod-ramp region impacted the left wing, a transport analysis was initiated to determine a credible flight path and impact velocity for the piece of debris. This debris transport analysis was performed both during orbit, and after the subsequent re-entry accident. The analysis provided an accurate prediction of the velocity a large piece of the foam bipod ramp would have as it impacted the wing leading edge. This prediction was corroborated by video analysis and fully-coupled CFD/6-DOF simulations. While the prediction of impact velocity was accurate enough to predict critical damage in this case, one of the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) for return-to-flight (RTF) was to analyze the complete debris environment experienced by the shuttle stack on ascent.


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    Title :

    Characterization of Space Shuttle Ascent Debris Using CDF Methods


    Contributors:
    S. M. Murman (author) / M. J. Aftomis (author) / S. E. Rogers (author)

    Publication date :

    2004


    Size :

    20 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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