Water Impact Prediction Tool for Recoverable Rockets

The measurements taken during Shuttle flights and the Ares I-X test flight provide a unique opportunity to assess the accuracy of the mo dels and methods used to analyze the loads and accelerations during water impact of reco verable rockets. In this paper, the methods used for reconstructing the loads and accelerations during water impact are described. The results generated are compared to measured values, leading to insight into the accuracy of the water impact prediction tool te chniques. Notice to readers: The predicted performance and certain other features and characteristics of the Ares I-X launch vehicle are defined by the U.S. Government to be Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU). Therefore, details have been removed from selected plots and figures. Nomenclature A = Projected surface area Cd = Coefficient of drag F = Force g = Gravitational constant ρ = Density