CFD Post-Flight Analysis of the Mini-IRENE Demonstrator Mission

Flexible thermal protection systems (FTPS) are becoming an increasingly important technology for the future development of space missions. In recent years, several projects have been carried out by NASA, ESA and other space agencies worldwide. In this context, the Italian flight demonstrator Mini-Irene successfully completed a suborbital flight in November 2022, marking an important milestone in the European FTPS landscape. The mission provided a wealth of valuable data, although some results were unexpected. This paper investigates the discrepancies observed after the suborbital flight demonstration between measured flight data and CFD simulations. Potential causes include the porosity of the materials, which may play a key role, as well as increases in the capsule’s spin and acceleration. Additionally, 3D effects and the atmospheric model used in the preliminary analysis could significantly influence the comparison. The present study explores all these possibilities.