Advanced fiber optic temperature sensing technology into thermal protection system development and flight instrumentation to improve our understanding of how heatshield materials perform and thereby our ability to do human and robotic spaceflight.
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This project hopes to improve our understanding of how heatshield materials perform and thereby our ability to do human and robotic spaceflight.
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Completed fabrication of sensorized arc jet test models (both PICA and BPA) and arc jet tested them (18 total models). Determined that Fiber Optic Bragg (FBG) sensors performed well up to 10O0-1200C, fiber degradation occurs at higher temperatures. Going to Sapphire fibers would increase temperature capability. Themocouples provide accurate data up to 1500C. Advnaced TRL for FBG sensors to 6.