Transonic Aerodynamics of a Lifting Orion Crew Capsule from Ballistic Range Data

Estimated nonlinear aerodynamic coefficients, including pitch- and yaw-damping derivatives, were obtained for a lifting model of the Orion crew capsule from experiments in the Hypervelocity Free-Flight Aerodynamics facility at NASA Ames Research Center. Nominal Mach numbers for the tests ranged from 0.70 to 1.25. A 44.45 mm-diameter powder gun launched the models through the 22.86 m-long test section, where their positions and attitudes were recorded with shadowgraph cameras at 16 optical stations. Data for nonlifting capsules were also taken. For angles of attack far from trim, both the lifting and nonlifting configurations appear to be stable in pitch damping. The symmetric models at supersonic speeds and the lifting models near Mach 0.7 show significant instability in pitch damping close to trim. For the latter case at small sideslip angles, yaw damping is also unstable.