03.4 - Applied Aerodynamics
NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE FIRST-STAGE RE-ENTRY TRAJECTORY USING AN INFLATABLE BALLUTE
V. Orlandini¹, R. Paciorri¹, A. Assonitis¹, A. Bonfiglioli, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Italy; ¹University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy
The work explores using an inflatable ballute for decelerating reusable launch vehicle (RLV) first stages during re-entry. This innovative approach, tested on a rocket with a liquid propellant engine, extends mission time, reduces stress at higher altitudes, and significantly lowers speed near the ground. It aims to assess the feasibility and advantages of this method w.r.t. other devices.