Space Launch System (SLS) Base Convective Environments

Speaker: Manish Mehta, Aerosciences Branch, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
May 5, 2022

Presentation

Abstract

The NASA Space Launch System (SLS) vehicle is composed of four RS-25 liquid oxygen-hydrogen rocket engines in the core-stage and two 5-segment solid rocket boosters at a total lift-off thrust of 8,870,000 lbf and as a result six hot supersonic plumes interact within the aft section of the vehicle during flight. In this presentation, the various trends of the base convective and pressure environments within the core-stage and booster base regions are discussed. In-depth investigation of the base flow physics for nominal and off-nominal flight is presented using shock tunnel instrumentation test data, infrared high-speed imaging, planar laser-induced-fluorescence (PLIF), other new non-intrusive diagnostics and theory. The second component describes the methodology of generating external thermal base design environments from the ground test data and the thermal impacts and design of SLS Block I base components. The third component briefly touches on Green Run Core Stage base heating observations and the associated base aerothermodynamics developmental flight instrumentation (DFI) for the first SLS Block I flight.

Funded by the NASA SLS Program

Biography

Manish Mehta is a subject matter expert within the Aerosciences Branch at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. His main area of focus is aerothermodynamics, base aerodynamics and gas-granular flow physics and has been working in these disciplines for the last 17 years.

Seminar Participation

Attending In Person

For select seminars, you may wish to attend in-person if you are in the vicinity of NASA Ames Research Center. These AMS seminars are held in Building N258 in Room 127, just off the front lobby. Sessions available to attend in-person will be indicated in the announcement information. In-person participants without NASA badges will need a valid visitor badge (US citizenship or permanent residency is required) to enter the facility.

Join Us Online

To attend an AMS seminar, click on the Microsoft Teams link in the seminar description. You can connect through the desktop Teams App if you have it, or you can select "Watch on the Web Instead" to enter the meeting as a guest. Please ensure that you've muted your microphone in Teams before you select "Join Now" to enter the meeting lobby.