DEVELOPMENT OF A SCRAM ACCELERATOR BASED HYPERVELOCITY LAUNCHER

The Scramaccelerator, a novel type of supersonic-combustion, tube-base d launcher has been developed that can accelerate projectiles to veloc ities of 3 to over 7 km/sec. Extremely flexible in application, the Sc ramaccelerator could launch impact specimens, wind tunnel specimens, p rojectiles, satellites, or spacecraft. This paper describes the techno logy demonstration of the concept by firing 120 gram projectiles into a 38 mm barrel at 2-8 to 3.2 km/sec at the Titan/CRT Impact Research L aboratory in Albuquerque. This technology promises an upward scalabili ty beyond that of any conventional ballistic guns and electromagnetic launchers for high mass hypervelocity applications. It is the objectiv e of this program to demonstrate the practical application of detonati on physics to hypervelocity launchers. Critical test issues discussed include sabot separation, venting requirements, Scramaccelerator tube requirements, and test performance. The current data indicate projecti le accelerations were achieved in excess of 5,000 g's. Hence, these te sts finally demonstrate that oblique detonation/supersonic combustion can be harnessed as a useful mechanism for hypervelocity propulsion. I n addition, these tests demonstrate hypersonic propulsion at Mach numb ers above 9, acceleration at greater than 3 kilometers per second, and system integration technology sufficient to accomplish this success. Scalability of the device allows for the hypervelocity launch of large masses.