Supplemented Thrust Reversal Contraption for Enhanced Flight Termination System (EFTS)

Abstract

Missiles and spacecrafts utilize Flight Termination Systems (FTS) as a standard safety criterion to abort all the functions of the vehicle at the time when a mission failure, in the form of an unrecoverable disturbance in flight trajectory, signal communication failure, or any other technical fault, is detected. With the increasing space activities across nations and considering the practical space traffic problems to be encountered during the advent of safe and comfortable space travel, flight termination systems would be critically valuable in managing and manipulating space traffic accidents. Depending upon the type of space mission, different types of FTS, characterized by unique features, may be employed viz., self-destruct system, parachute release system, separation system, etc. A complete FTS has three main sub-units: receiver, safe and arm device and termination system. When the standard features of a termination unit are combined with new enhanced prototypes, it results in better performance and intensified resultant outcomes. A supplemented thrust reversal mechanism is proposed to gain the enhanced capabilities of Flight Termination System. This supplemented thrust reversal contraption works as multi-axial motion controller for trajectory monitoring and regulation, as it independently controls roll, yaw and pitch thrust vectors irrespective of the functioning of the main propulsion unit and thus offers a better performance in an advanced space traffic scenario as a constituent model within spacecraft's FTS.