The missile defense community got a unique close-up
view of the successful Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense
intercept test on Nov. 17 thanks to APL-developed sensors
placed onboard the target missile.
A team from APL
developed a multipurpose sensor payload that was integrated
with the target missile to collect video and infrared
imagery of the target's boost and post-boost phases of
flight, video coverage of the target's re-entry vehicle
separation event and spectral, radiometric and video
coverage of the intercept by a Standard Missile-3, or
SM-3.
"This provided scientists with the closest and
clearest view of the intercept," said Joseph Mulé,
APL's project manager for Aegis BMD Test and Evaluation.
"It will also enable scientists to better understand the
phenomenon of post-burnout motor debris associated with
solid-fueled boosters."
The payload takes advantage of the target booster's
attitude control and guidance and navigation systems, which
enable very accurate pointing of the separated booster
section toward the re-entry vehicle to ensure the intercept
takes place within the forward-looking sensors' fields of
view. The payload consists of three fundamental parts:
forward- and aft-looking sensors, and an electronics
box.
The forward-looking sensor package consists of a
radiometer, spectrometer, debris impact sensor and a
visible-light camera to collect, for the first time, in
situ measurements of an Aegis BMD intercept viewed from the
target's separated booster section. The target-based
sensors provide closer, clearer observations acquired at a
different angle than those obtained by airborne- and
ground-based platforms, which are often subject to
transmission losses.
The forward-looking sensors, used to view the re-entry
vehicle separating from the booster, are placed inside a
hinged cover with sapphire windows to protect them from
contamination. After separation, the hinged cover opens so
the sensors can directly view the intercept.
The aft-looking package consists of an infrared camera
to collect data on the booster's post-burnout debris
efflux, and a visible-light camera to obtain "departing
Earth" video footage as the target's booster flies into
space. The APL team designed and built pods, placed on the
outside of the booster, to house each of the aft-looking
sensors and protect them from aerothermal heating. The APL
team also oversaw the development of an electronics box to
switch between instruments and cameras during the mission,
and encode and format data and video for telemetry
transmission.
"We're very excited to provide the Aegis BMD community
with this unique capability," Mulé said. "Data
collected during this flight test will add to the
understanding of the intercept, as well as [to]
post-burnout solid rocket motor debris phenomena."
The APL team built and tested, in house, two payloads,
one for the flight test on Nov. 17 and another for the
next, scheduled for early 2006. It's currently fabricating
two additional payloads for future tests and developing the
next-generation payload concept that would fly on much
longer-range targets used to support Aegis BMD flight
tests.
"It was rewarding for our team to build off of the
Lab's legacy in both air and missile defense and space
applications, and develop and test the payloads within APL
facilities," Mulé says. "We envision continuing our
efforts to evolve the payload and transitioning the
technology to industry."
APL is the technical direction agent for the Aegis BMD
program, which includes SM-3. The Missile Defense Agency
and the Navy manage the Aegis BMD program.