Flight Data Analysis of the Multicolor Imaging Pyrometry Experiment on ESA’s Intermediate Experimental Vehicle (IXV)

Abstract

The Intermediate Experimental Vehicle (IXV) successfully performed a controlled atmospheric reentry in February 2015. Among the numerous experiments onboard was an infrared camera system designed to monitor the heating of one of the vehicle’s control flaps. The paper presents an analysis of the raw image data sequence obtained to arrive at an estimate of the flap (rear) surface temperature distribution throughout the reentry flight. Relying on a time-multiplexed stream of images at 1.45, 1.55 and 1.65 micron, the temperature reconstruction algorithm automatically eliminates the camera’s varying gain and offset signatures. Similarly, detailed knowledge of the filter transmission coefficients, the flap surface’s infrared emissivity and optical viewing angles is not required. Results will be presented along the flight timeline in comparison with several reference thermocouples (TCs) that were placed on the flap surface within the camera’s field of view.