Fiber Sensors for High Temperatures in Space and During Re-entry
A multi-sensor system has been built to investigate the thermal and stress conditions that a rocket encounters while re-entering the earth atmosphere. Rocket panels were specially outfitted with fiber temperature sensors in order to measure the high temperature in the heat shield. Thermocouples were also included in the panels, which serve to validate the optical sensors - though sensors have much greater immunity to EMI and potential for much faster data acquisition.
The system includes 4 strands of fiber, each containing up to 6 optical fiber sensors for temperature and stress measurements.
Specifications
| Temperature | up to 1000 | °C |
| Spectral resolution | Better than 20 | pm |
| Communication | Redundant RS422 link | |
| Sensor Distribution | 24 temperature sensors at different locations distributed over 4 fiber lines |
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| Payload mass | < 1.5 | kg |
| Payload dimensions (LxWxH) | 174 x 160 x 65 | mm |
| Acquisition Frequency | > 100 | Hz |
| Peak power consumption | < 5 | W |
| Back up Memory | MIlitary grade protected USB |
Partners
MPB Communications Inc., DLR
MPB Contribution
Design, FBG Sensor Fabrication, integration, and testing
Mission
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Installed on a DLR rocket in spring 2015, with a successful flight in July 2016
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Currently working on next generation for DLR rocket scheduled for 2018
Papers
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High temperature optical fiber sensor for atmospheric reentry, E. Haddad; R. V. Kruzelecky; K. Tagziria; B. Aissa; Iain McKenzie; A. Guelhan; J.-M. Muylaert; Mert Celinkin; David Barba, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2016, 2016, Biarritz, France