Drake, H. M.

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SURVEY OF FRC RECOVERY RESEARCH
By H. M. Drake
Recovery research at FRC has, as indicated in the first
chart, been concentrated in the areas of conventional air-
craft, drogue parachutes amd paragliders. Planned work in-
cludes flight tests of liftlng-body recovery vehicles and a
l_]ar-landing simulator.
The FRC research ou lo_0ing of conventional aircraft
will not be discussed here since it has been adequate reported
in l_ferences 1 through 7. This work is continuing,
The FRC has completed development and proof tests of two
drogue chute systems, o_-_2for the Mercury capsule and the
second for the B-58 escape capsule. Both programs utilized
the F-104Aairplane which is capable of launching up to
1500 pounds weight at Mach numbers up to 2 at altitudes be-
tween 30,000 and 50,000 feet. It can zoom, as shown in the
second figure, to release the store at altitudes as high as
85,000 feet, _ at lower speeds. The test con@[tions for
the Mercury drogue are show_ onthe third chart and the test
resL_ts are reported in reference 8. The B-58 escape capsule
tests involved releases of a 630poundcapsule at a Mach
number of 2.02 and altitudes of _5,000 az_d 31,000 feet. The
maximum q for the_e tests was 1690 po_qds per square foot.
Tests were also perlonned at altitudes as low as 18,000 feet
aud a Mach number of 1.25. At present, no further dro_e
tests are planned.
.!
Although not the subject of the meeting, a brief descrip-
tion might be given of the planned lifting-body program. The
lifting-body program at FRC will be initiated by the con-
st_ction of. several lightweight, full-scale man-car_ing
glider vehicles. These vehicles Will have configurations
which high-speed tunnel tests h_ve indicated to be attractive
for reentry. Configurations such as the .M2B, lanticular,
and M-1-L are being considered. The _oK speed and lan.ding
characteristics of these lightweight (W/S _-7 lb/sq ft )
vehicles will be investigated in free flight following release
from airpls_e tow. Later phases include the construction and
tests of full-scale wing-loading vehicles of the more promising
configurations. T_¢._ _i-. h-__e_ speeds "''_ _-_- -
_ ......... .. _ w e_e heavyweight
configurations may be performed.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19730061701 2020-03-17T13:47:42+00:00Z
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A word might be said here regarding the capabilities of
_ ...... _ _,_ FR_. The capabilities of the F-104A
have been mentioned. This airplane is also cable of
launching rockets of up to 1500 pounds weight at up to 90 °
climb angle, see reference 9. Two B-52 aircraft a_e also
available, which are used for launching X-15 aircraft.
These B-52 aircraft are capable of launching stores of up
to 35,000 pounds weight and approximately lO feet in diameter.
The lauuch-altitude capability extends to about 50,000 feet;
the speed capability is about 0.8 Mach number. In addition
to the F-IO4A and B-52 capability, an A3J has been requested
for FRC for another program. This airplane could launch
stores of up to 5,000 pounds at the same conditions as the
F-104A.
Mr. Horton will discuss the current FRC paraglider
program.
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...... REFERENCES
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9_
Stillwell, W. H. : Results of Measuren_nts Made During
the Aooroach _n.d T_,, _
..... _ _ Seven High-Speed Research
Airpl_es. -NACA RM H54K24, 1955.
Matranga, G. J., and Armstrong, N. A. : Approach and
Landing Investigation at Lift-Drag Ratios of 2 to 4
Utilizing a Straight-Wing Fighter Airplane.
NASA TM X-313 1959.
Matranga, G. J., and Menard, J. A. : Approach and
Landing Investigation at Lift-Drag Ratios of 3 to 4
Utilizing a Delta-Wing Interceptor Airplane.
NASA TM X-125, 1959.
Well, J., and Matranga, G. J. : Review of Techniques
Applicable to the Recovery of Lifting Hypervel0city
Vehicle. NASA TM X-334, 1960.
Matr__uga, G. J. : Analysis of X-15 Landing Approach
and Flare Characteristics Determined From the First
30 Flights. NASA TN D-1057, 1961.
White, R. M., Robinson, G. L., and Matranga, G. J.:
Resume of Handling Qualities. NASA TM X-715, 1961.
Matramga, G. J., Dana, W. H., and Armstrong, N. A.:
Flight-Simulated 0ff-The-Pad Escape and Landing
Maneuvers for a Vertically_Launched Hypersonic
Glider. NASA TM X-637, 1962.
Johnson, C. T.: Investigation of the Characteristics
of 6-foot Drogue-Stabilization Ribbon Parachutes at
High Altitudes and Low Supersonic Speeds.
NASA TM X-448, 1960.
Horton, V. W., and Messing, W. E.: Som_ Operational
Aspects of the use of Aircraft for Launching Solid-
Fuel Sounding Rockets. Proposed NASA TN D-1279, 1962.
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Survey of FRC recovery research

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