The Impact of the Inlet Flow Profile on the Unsteady Swirl Distortion Characteristics of an S-Duct Intake Using Stereo PIV Methods

Propulsion system integration is expected to play a major role in the future. Despite recent technology improvements convoluted diffusing ducts generate notable unsteadiness, which affects the engine performance and operability. In this investigation the Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry technique has been applied at the Aerodynamic Interface Plane of a high-offset S-duct to quantify the unsteady flow distortion caused by the ingestion of a non-uniform flow profile at different inlet locations.openEmbargo temporaneo per motivi di segretezza e/o di proprietà dei risultati e informazioni di enti esterni o aziende private che hanno partecipato alla realizzazione del lavoro di ricerca relativo alla tes

ASCenSIon innovative training network: mid-term overview and lessons learned

The field of access to space is wide and complex, and it involves several disciplines and areas of expertise such as propulsion physics, software development, experimental studies, numerical simulations, thermodynamics, missionisation, etc. A gap in the training of young European researchers at doctoral level has been identified in this field, as no high-level education programme exists with the ability to range across such a large range of research topics. With the aim to fill this gap, 24 European entities from academia, industry and research centers have partnered in the framework of "ASCenSIon", an Innovative Training Network funded by the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska Curie Action. The objective of the project is to contribute to the establishment of a both ecologically and economically sustainable space access for Europe, therefore advancing its State of the Art. This is achieved by training 15 Early Stage Researchers of different background, nationality, gender and age, to become experts in their fields and to have a deep understanding of the access to space domain as a whole. Within ASCenSIon, the Early Stage Researchers, who are enrolled in a PhD programme, acquire both technical and transferable skills thanks to an inclusive and diverse training programme held at local and project level. Unlike more ordinary PhDs, the training offered by ASCenSIon does not only focus on narrow scopes of research fields, one domain (e.g. industry or academia) and one country. It features instead an interdisciplinary, intersectoral and multicultural approach. The offer includes training events in different forms, such as workshops, lectures, experimental weeks and summer schools, which are complemented by the participation in conferences and similar events. Given that the project started in January 2020 and will end in December 2023, this paper provides a midterm overview of the project and the lessons learned so far, with a particular focus on the remote vs in-person training experience forced by the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak

The Impact of the Inlet Flow Profile on the Unsteady Swirl Distortion Characteristics of an S-Duct Intake Using Stereo PIV Methods

Propulsion system integration is expected to play a major role in the future. Despite recent technology improvements convoluted diffusing ducts generate notable unsteadiness, which affects the engine performance and operability. In this investigation the Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry technique has been applied at the Aerodynamic Interface Plane of a high-offset S-duct to quantify the unsteady flow distortion caused by the ingestion of a non-uniform flow profile at different inlet locations

Design and test in microgravity of a space tether length and length rate measurement device

Abstract\u2014In this paper design, implementation, laboratory and microgravity tests of a space tether length and length rate measurer are discussed. The instrument presented was part of an experimental setup consisting in a new concept of space tether deployer with retrieval capability, which was designed and built in the framework of the Drop Your Thesis! 2016 educational programme, held by the European Space Agency Education Office. The instrument working principle is based on optical sensors and is inspired to similar instruments used on SEDS and YES2 space missions. The entire setup was first tested in laboratory on a low friction rail, then in microgravity conditions at the ZARM Drop Tower. The results of the test campaign proved the functionality of the measurement instrument which allowed the experiment to meet the prefixed goals

A multi-lander New Frontiers mission concept study for Enceladus: SILENUS

Enceladus, with its subsurface ocean, is amongst the top priority targets in the search for life beyond Earth. Following on discoveries from the Cassini mission that Enceladus possesses a global subsurface ocean containing salt and organic compounds, there are many unconstrained properties of the ocean and ice shell that must be investigated to further assess the habitability of Enceladus and begin the search for biosignatures on Enceladus. In this paper, we present a concept study for a New Frontiers class multi-lander and orbiter mission to Enceladus that investigates if there is or ever was a habitable environment on Enceladus. The mission architecture includes an orbiter for detailed chemical analysis of material erupted from Enceladus’ plumes and four impact landers for geophysical measurements. As part of our mission concept study, we explore key trades for orbital and surface science, as well as assess the scientific potential and hazards of candidate landing sites on Enceladus. The novelty of our mission architecture and consideration of both orbital and surface science elements makes this work directly relevant to a broad range of potential future mission architectures under consideration, such as those identified in the 2023–2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey.Mathematical Geodesy and PositioningAstrodynamics & Space Mission

Rapid Mission Concept Development at the 2019 Caltech Space Challenge: A Small Lander Network Studying the Habitability of Enceladus

The 2019 Caltech Space Challenge was a one-week intensive mission proposal challenge that brought an international group of 32 post-secondary students from various disciplines to design multi-lander mission concepts for Enceladus.The students were divided intotwo competing teams of 16, Team Voyager and Team Explorer. In this paper, Team Voyager describes their process and challenges in conceptualizing the winning mission proposal (SILENUS) of an orbiter andanetwork of landers.The final mission architecture proposes a mission where the science data return lasts just over one year andsends an orbitingsatellite housing science instrumentation to Enceladus, dropping off four penetrating seismometers to the surface of the icy moon. In our paper, we provide anoverview of our high-level mission design, an analysis of team structure and dynamics, the resources utilized by theteamsto assist with mission conception, as well as the challenges and learning outcomes of the weekas a framework for future rapid mission concept development.</div