Instrumented splashdown testing of a scale model Titan Mare Explorer (TiME) capsule

Abstract

AbstractWater entry tests are conducted with a scale model capsule to explore the sensitivity of splashdown accelerations and motions to impact conditions, to support estimation of splashdown loads and behaviours of the proposed Titan Mare Explorer (TiME) mission. A 3D printed capsule with off-the-shelf USB accelerometer loggers enabled tests to be performed on a tight schedule. Contact impulse and peak loads are presented for a range of impact speeds and geometries, and predicted loads at full-scale on Titan are derived. The observed variation of peak load with impact speed is broadly consistent with the theoretically-expected square law but is surprisingly also consistent with a linear function (in common with some results from the literature). Test execution procedures and the performance of the data acquisition system are reviewed.