Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS): Design and testing for hypersonic re-entry flight

The Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS) is being developed to conduct atmospheric entry experiments quickly and inexpensively. KRUPS is designed to test multiple types of thermal protection systems (TPS) or data acquisition instruments. The current KRUPS mission is aimed at sending three capsules up to the International Space Station (ISS) via the NG-16 Cygnus resupply vehicle. After the completion of the primary mission, the Cygnus vehicle will de-orbit with the capsules inside. Next, Cygnus will break up into the atmosphere in order to burn up stored trash. The three KRUPS capsules, however, will be set free during the breakup event, re-entering the atmosphere while collecting data. Each capsule is outfitted with a heat shield which protects the internal electronics and allows the capsule to survive the entry. The main objective of this KRUPS mission is to collect thermal measurements at varying depths within the heat shield. The capsules were designed to transmit data during the hypersonic flight using the Iridium satellite network. Several tests were conducted on these three capsules to qualify them for the flight to the ISS. The capsules were flown to the ISS in August 2021 aboard the Cygnus vehicle. They were placed in storage for the duration of the NG-16 mission to the ISS. On November 2021, they were activated and installed in the Cygnus vehicle. All three KREPE capsules are currently in orbit aboard the Cygnus vehicle. The atmospheric entry of the Cygnus vehicle is planned for December 2021.