Daedalus 2: Autorotation Entry, Descent and Landing Experiment on REXUS29
- Paper ID
78230
- author
- company
Julius Maximilians Universität Würzburg
- country
Germany
- year
2023
- abstract
In recent years, interplanetary exploration has gained significant momentum, leading to a focus on the development of launch vehicles. However, the critical technology of Entry Descent and Landing (EDL) mechanisms has not received the same level of attention and remains less mature and capable. To address this gap, we took advantage of the REXUS program to develop a pioneering EDL mechanism and challenge the current state of the art in this field. Through our research, we discovered that autorotation offers a viable alternative to conventional landing vehicles, especially compared to parachutes. Our approach provides significant advantages, including steerability, controllability, and the possibility of a soft landing. To validate our concept and specific implementation, we conducted a sounding rocket experiment on REXUS 29, and compared the results to previous missions and simulations. We also discuss the different subsystems, including relevant design decisions and constraints that drove the individual system designs, such as software, mechanics, electronics, and control systems. An emphasis will also be on the organization and setup of the team entirely made up and executed by students. To minimize the possibility of error and maximize understanding of this relatively new technology, we verified the design iterations through testing. In this paper, we discuss the results of these tests and the major insights we gained. This includes a full flight and possible failure analysis of the autorotation system. Additionally, we present the flight on REXUS itself, including the most important outcomes, and focus on the comparison to other decelerators like parachutes. Ultimately, future works and possibilities for improvements are outlined. The research presented in this paper highlights the need for continued exploration and development of EDL mechanisms for future interplanetary missions. By demonstrating the potential of autorotation as a viable alternative to conventional landing systems, we hope to inspire further research in this area and contribute to the advancement of space exploration technology.