Need a flight test solution for evaluating thermal protection materials and hot structures at hypersonic speeds?
SpaceWorks’ RED-Phoenix is a recoverable flight testbed designed to conduct testing of advanced leading edge materials, nose caps, sensor windows, and fins at relevant flight conditions. Our goal is to work with the R&D community to help raise the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of these advanced TPS materials and thermal structures to TRL 6.
RED-Phoenix requires a separate booster, but is designed to be compatible with several low cost booster options. It flies a ballistic trajectory and uses a built-in supersonic decelerator and a subsonic parachute for recovery.
Overview
- Recoverable hypersonic testbed for thermal materials R&D
- Unpowered, ballistic trajectory
- Compatible with several low-cost booster options
Technical
- Gross mass < 30 kg
- Replicates reentry, hypersonic cruise, and/or terminal phase trajectory segments
- Capable of nose heating conditions > 1000 W/cm2
- On-board data collection and data storage system (recoverable)
Status
- Initial funding from the US Air Force (AFWERX SBIR)
- Conceptual design complete
