PLASMA TELEMETRY IN HYPERSONIC FLIGHT

• Main Authors: Starkey, Ryan P., Lewis, Mark J., Jones, Charles H.
• Other Authors: University of Maryland
• Language: en_US
• Published: International Foundation for Telemetering 2002
• Subjects: Hypersonic Plasma Telemetry; Plasma Sheath; Radio Blackout Alleviation; Aerodynamic Shaping; Reentry Communication
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/607506; http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/607506

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 21, 2002 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California === Problems associated with telemetry blackout caused by the plasma sheath surrounding a hypersonic vehicle are addressed. In particular, the critical nature of overcoming this limitation for test and evaluation purposes is detailed. Since the telemetry blackout causes great concern for atmospheric cruise vehicles, ballistic missiles, and reentry vehicles, there have been many proposed approaches to solving the problem. This paper overviews aerodynamic design methodologies, for which the required technologies are only now being realized, which may allow for uninterrupted transmission through a plasma sheath. The severity of the signal attenuation is dependent on vehicle configuration, trajectory, flightpath, and mission.