In collaboration between th Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt – Mobile Rocket Base (DLR-MORABA) and the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) the Hypersonic Flight Research Experiment (HIFLIER) was successfully launched from the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden.
On 10th October 2023 at 10:00 CEST the single stage Black Brant sounding rocket was launched and successfully reached an apogee of 190 km and the desired velocity during both an ascent test window and a reentry test window. During the two experiment windows between 15km and 35km altitudes a maximum Mach number of 6 was attained.
AFRL's experiment focused on measuring aerodynamic heating effects by studying boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow on the rocket's forebody. Over 250 sensors and a high-speed data acquisition system developed byGoHypersonic Inc.were utilized, showcasing groundbreaking technology and data processing capabilities.
In this context, we conducted the FinEx experiment and tested the application of transpiration cooling technology on fins with sharp leading edges during these hypersonic flight conditions. The fins were manufactured with a new porous carbon/carbon silicon-carbide (C/C-SiC) material by our institute. Moreover, while one fin was cooled with constant coolant mass flow rate, an active control system, designed at the Institute of Space System of the University of Stuttgart, was employed on another fin to efficiently regulate the mass flow rate according to the real time thermal load. Two additional fins were un-cooled to act as a baseline.
All experimental payload flight and data systems were fully operational for the experimental system and transmitted data until post separation. Based on initial flight data the rocket motor systems performed as expected. The data is currently being analysed in detail in order to gain further insights.
