SBIR-STTR Award

Liquids released into space offer high potential as countermeasure against SDI defensive systems designed to engage ballistic missiles during their exoatmospheric flight phases. The countermeasure potential includes the ability to thwart detection and discrimination systems, reduce dew effectiveness, and defeat KEW attack. Streams and sprays of select liquids would be used to mask the deployment of RVS and penetration aids. The resulting cloud of droplets and ice particles is expected to absorb, reflect and scatter incident dew radiations. KEW projectiles which traverse this cloud would experience damage to sensors, electronics and propulsion subsystems. Success in any one of these areas would significantly impact the composition and structure of an SDI defensive system. Phase I will investigate the technical and operational practicality issues necessary to determine concept feasibility. The principal area of concern is the establishment of empirical relationships governing the behavior of liquids released into a space environment. The interaction of the liquids on the operational performance of the p8v will also be addressed. Results of phase I will form the basis for an extensive ground and flight test program during phase II.

The feasibility has been demonstrated for utilizing streams of liquid droplets released into space as a means of defeating kinetic energy weapon (kew) projectiles which are attacking post boost vehicles (pbvs) and their deployed payloads. Techniques are being developed for the control of droplet streams in support of the space droplet radiator. These techniques are expected to form the basis by which droplets of one to two orders of magnitude larger diameter can be formed and accurately released to shield pvbs, reentry vehicles (rvs), and decoys from kew attack. Work plan activities are being undertaken that are designed to further the development of the liquid anti-kew exoatmospheric countermeasure. In addition, related work is being performed to investigate the potential for facilitating the un-discriminated deployment and erection of replica decoys and for employing the same liquid droplet technique to provide unambiguous detection of rvs during midcourse. In addition to strategic defense uses, potential commercial applications for controlled liquid streams in space include slurry-based transportation, aerobraking for orbital transfer vehicles, scavenging planetary gases, and detumbling of errant spacecraft.