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Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Request for Information for High Hypersonic Reentry Flight Experiment Program Introduction Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is gathering information for future partnering with industry and other government agencies to develop high-cadence, recoverable, reliable, cost-effective orbital and hypersonic reentry experiment platforms. These platforms offer exposure to extreme reentry environments with payload recovery post-fight for Technology Readiness Level (TRL) maturation and Science & Technology (S&T) advancement. AFRL aims to advance novel, innovative research areas that address capability, technology, or scientific gaps for hypersonic reentry vehicles and environments. In addition to existing orbital and hypersonic platforms, AFRL aims to further develop hypersonic testing infrastructure and platforms. Near-future capabilities include non-ballistic trajectories and high-acceleration-load (50+ g's) flight conditions. AFRL has the following reentry experimentation priorities (not in priority order): Promote cutting-edge research to enhance the Department of War's (DOW) ability to address future science and technology (S&T) requirements for hypersonic reentry. This involves developing recoverable flight payloads designed to withstand extreme hypersonic conditions above 7.5km/s and high-acceleration forces exceeding 50 g's including, but not limited to: Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technologies with the potential to be radiation hardened/survivable (operate through, circumvent and recover, etc.) – accelerometers, gyroscopes, navigation aids for operating in a GPS denied environment (stellar, radar, optical, etc.), and new SW algorithms for relevant hypersonic flight environments Avionics Components with the potential to be radiation hardened/survivable (operate through, circumvent and recover, etc.) – flight computers, processors, actuators, etc. Flight-Environment Sensors – heat flux, temperature, pressure, shock, vibration, acceleration, attitude, altitude, material recession, plasma, etc. Novel Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials and manufacturing techniques, including, but not limited to hot-structure TPS Integrated Systems – e.g. flight computer with IMU with navigation aid Vehicle Diagnostic Sensors and Algorithms Communication Capabilities – e.g. telemetry Autonomous precision landing Ejectables on orbit or reentry Identify reentry testbed capabilities that improve Department of War's (DOW's) ability to meet hypersonic reentry environment S&T needs by providing recoverable test platforms that operate in relevant hypersonic environments: Required Characteristics (not all simultaneously required) Minimum speed 7.5 km/s Acceleration loads of at least 50 g's Minimum 2000° C thermal load Minimum heat flux in flight of 350 W/cm2 Support at least a 40 x 40 x 40 cm payload volume and 5+kg mass Host-provided power Additional Useful Characteristics Ability to maneuver at hypersonic speed, minimum …
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