Summary of Research 2001, Space Systems Academic Group, Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Panholzer
Keyword(s):  
Applied Sciences ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
Space Systems ◽  
Academic Group

scholarly journals Experimental Characterization of Weightlessness During Glider Parabolic Flights

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1121-1132
Author(s):  
Denis-Gabriel Caprace ◽  
Camille Gontier ◽  
Mohammad Iranmanesh ◽  
Mehdi Scoubeau ◽  
Vladimir Pletser
Keyword(s):  
Applied Sciences ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Flight Test ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
Lead Times ◽  
Space Systems ◽  
Sounding Rockets ◽  
Parabolic Flights ◽  
Start Up

Abstract Access to earthbound weightlessness is critical to many branches of applied sciences. Besides, several space systems require microgravity testing before their launch. Existing solutions (drop towers, parabolic flights, sounding rockets) offer variable durations and qualities of microgravity environment, but their cost and lead times make them unpractical for small actors such as universities or start-up companies. This leads to a growing interest for alternative microgravity platforms. Here, we study the use of gliders to perform parabolic flights at a lower cost, and we propose a systematic quantification of glider’s 0-g flight capabilities. Results of our flight test campaign show that gliders offer up to 5.5s of weightlessness, with excursions below 0.1g, and a satisfactory level of repeatability. Besides, the recordings do not suffer from the increased level of vibrations generated by piston engines, typical of light-aircraft-based alternatives. Operational considerations associated with glider parabolic flights are also discussed. Finally, we conclude that a microgravity platform based on gliders would be suitable especially for compact experiments and equipment in order to support accelerated design and development, or to produce preliminary experimental results.

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