Speakers
Markus Ehinger
(RockwellCollins)
Patrik Kärräng
(Hyperschall Technologie Göttingen (HTG))
Description
The object of this study is to further investigate the break-up processes of a reaction wheel during re-entry. The ball bearing unit (BBU) was already identified as a key element (demising late) during the demise process in previous studies. Potential design changes are analyzed with regards to the optimization of demisability. First simulations show that a reaction wheel with an aluminum rotating mass (and with no design modifications) is demisable at and above release height of 87 km. A reaction wheel with a steel rotating mass is demisable at the same release height with only minor design modifications.
