This evening French intern Helene and I made the first attempt to create and test the restraint system holding the uprighting bags, for capsule Tycho Deep Space, in its position.
Each bag contains a total volume of app 220 liters and in theory each bag restraint system should be able to hold the equivalent volume uprighting force from water (app 220 kg).
The restraint system has to be a part of the whole system packed with the bag and locked behind the 0.3 mm aluminum plate which will be forces out during bag deployment.
In order to protect the bag and the restraint system I have added a tough fabric on the bag funnel edges which will be expanded during deployment covering the bag from edges and left over aluminum pieces.
Earlier today I got hold of some red 30 mm webbing which was added around the bag, hold in place with PVC slide pockets on the bag. The webbing was added a metal ring by the end pieces which is screwed into the side of the funnel with the same bolts holding the funnel itself.
The first test was done just trying to figure out the length of the webbing by estimation. However, the first inflation test indicated that the length of the webbing and its position on the bag was working quite well. During inflation the bag rose slowly and started to get tightened up against the side of the capsule as hoped for.
Next step is to (perhaps) adjust the length of the webbing, adding a few more PVC slide pockets on the bag for better webbing control. Also, I need to produce the three remaining bags. zzzz
June 16, I will be testing this system on water during our great capsule test day at Lindoe Space Test Center. During this day we will perform actual drop tests of the capsule into water from the gantry crane and force the capsule in a stable-2 position (bottom up) to test if all four bags deployed will force the capsule around in a stable-1 position (heads up).
Time to go home…
Capsule/LES launch in the Baltic Sea in 16 days.. Much to do… much fun..
Ad Astra
Kristian von Bengtson
