TsAGI (Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute, which is a part of the Scientific Research Center “Zhukovsky Institute”) has completed a phase of testing on the Crew Transportation Spacecraft (CTS) Orel, which is being developed at the Korolev RSC Energia (which is a part of the State Corporation Roscosmos).

The studies focused on the aerodynamic properties of the parachute container cover during its separation from the spacecraft re-entry vehicle. Separation of the parachute container cover is directly involved in the deployment of the reentry vehicle parachute system, therefore the crew safety cannot be guaranteed without its reliable and collision-free separation.

The tests were run on a CTS model in the large trans-sonic wind tunnel T-128 of TsAGI in subsonic mode using a computer-aided rig.

“The experiment simulated separation of the parachute compartment hatch cover to various distances within a wide range of angles of attack of the re-entry vehicle. At the same time the aerodynamic forces and torques acting on this element of the model were recorded. The subsequent analysis of the experimental data will make it possible to determine the most efficient and safe modes of jettisoning the cover”, – said the chief specialist of the department for study of aerothermodynamics of hypersonic aerospace and rocket vehicles at TsAGI Vladimir Plyashechnik.

The obtained set of experimental data will enable RSC Energia specialists to verify and update the analytical methods for determining the behavior of the parachute container cover during its jettisoning from the re-entry vehicle. Thus, the results of the experimental studies done at TsAGI will help in coming up with a sound and reliable design for the structure and operational modes of one of the structural elements of the spacecraft.