| Title | Capabilities and limitations of nondestructive evaluation methods for inspecting components beneath thermal protection systems |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 61852 |
| Personal Name Creator |
Esquivel, O.; Seibold, R. W. |
| Source | 41p. in various pagings |
| Corporate Creator | John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); Aerospace Corporation |
| Corporate Contributor |
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation |
| Publisher | Aerospace Corporation |
| Publication Date | 20040730 |
| Language | English |
| Abstract | The Aerospace Corporation was tasked by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to provide technical support to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST), to develop guidelines for inspecting components of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) protected by thermal protection systems (TPS). The specific objective was to review nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods used to inspect such aerospace structures covered by TPS. Basic issues concerning the inspection of components protected by TPS are identified, and the inherent strengths and limitations of the various NDE techniques as they relate to the projected needs of future RLV systems are described. This task also served to aid the identification and continuing development of advanced NDE techniques that offer strong potential for future application to RLV inspection. An improved understanding of the capabilities of current and developmental NDE approaches is necessary to establish future inspection guidelines unique to RLV systems. This report describes (1) generic issues associated with NDE inspection beneath TPS, (2) the current state-of-the-art of relevant NDE methods, and (3) new NDE techniques applicable to RLV inspection. |
| Rosap ID | dot:12492 |
| Rosap URL | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/12492 |
| TRT Terms | Launch vehicles; Commercial space transportation; Nondestructive tests; Licensing; Regulation; State of the art |
| General Subjects | Thermal protection systems; Reusable launch vehicles |
| Classification | NTL - AVIATION - AVIATION |
| Geographical Coverage |
United States |
| TRIS Online Accession No |
1638320 |
| Contract Number | DTRS57-99-D-00062, Task 5.0; FA-42R; AL411 |
| Report Number | DOT-VNTSC-FAA-04-10; ATR-2004(5081)-1 |
| Availability | Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center |
| Resource type | Tech Report |
| URL | https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/61000/61800/61852/Methods_for_Inspecting_Components_Beneath_Thermal_Protection_Systems.pdf |
| Format | |
| Database | NTL Digital Repository |