Thermal Ablation Measurement Device

Summary

Northrop Grumman, a leading U.S. defense and aerospace company, has tasked Team 18 with designing a device to continuously measure the recession rate of Thermal Protective Systems, or TPS. TPS materials are used on the exterior of Northrop Grumman Launch Vehicles to protect equipment and crew during atmospheric re-entry and supersonic flight by ablating. The challenge is to create a measurement system that is both accurate and resistant to extreme conditions. To meet these requirements, Team 18 is developing a millimeter-wavelength radar system. The radar will analyze electromagnetic waves as they pass through different materials, allowing it to measure TPS thickness in real time. A testing fixture using a propane flame to ablate Teflon has been designed to evaluate the device.