Design and demonstration of Bolt Retractor Separation system for X-38 Deorbit Propulsion Stage

Details Design and demonstration of Bolt Retractor Separation system for X-38 Deorbit Propulsion Stage Design and demonstration of Bolt Retractor Separation system for X-38 Deorbit Propulsion Stage

Sep 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003esasp.524..371a&link_type=abstract

In: Proceedings of the 10th European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium, 24-26 September 2003, San Sebastián, Spain. Compi

Computer Science

Robotics

Bolt Retractor Subsystem

Scientific paper

A separation system was designed for the X-38 experimental crew return vehicle program to allow the Deorbit Propulsion Stage (DPS) to separate from the X-38 lifting body during reentry operations. The configuration chosen was a spring-loaded plunger, known as the Bolt Retractor Subsystem (BRS), that retracts each of the six DPS-to-lifting body attachment bolts across the interface plane after being triggered by a separation nut mechanism. The system was designed to function on the ground in an atmospheric environment as well as in space. The BRS provides the same functionality as that of a completely pyrotechnic shear separation system that would normally be considered ideal for this application, but at a much lower cost. This system also could potentially be applied to future space station crew return vehicles. The design goal of 40 ms retraction time was successfully met in a series of demonstrations performed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Pyrotechnic Shock Facility (PSF) and Flight Robotics Laboratory (FRL). It must be emphasized that a full-scale test series was not performed on the BRS due to program schedule and cost constraints.

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