Spacecraft surface contamination can result from nozzle-exhaust molecules, droplets, and/or condensate-clusters which expand and scatter to fill the space volume at large angles from the nozzle thrust axis. Only a small fraction of the exhaust products expands to large angles; however, the amount is… More

The objective of this project is to implement and demonstrate a comprehensive physical model and practical computation tool for predicting/analyzing soot formation due to hydrocarbon-fuel combustion is liquid-propellant rockets. A state-of-science approach is proposed for understanding/ quantifying… More

A comprehensive rigorous unified physical formulation and accurate efficient robust computation technique are described for simulating complex compressible viscous reacting multiphases flow phenomena which can affect or control the performance or signatureof a flight vehicle during al phases of… More

A near-term low-cost end-to-end optical signature code is proposed which incorporates advanced physical models and simulation methods within a unified code structure to enable unprecedented levels of computational performance (speed, fidelity) for analysisand simulation of target/background… More

A new Plasma Radar Effects Simulation (PRES) is proposed. The objective is a software tool that predicts radar observables for general three-dimensional plasma volumes (plumes/wakes are special cases). PRES requires an imported flowfield containingcharged species and condensed phase particulate… More

A data-driven model of missile exhaust plume intensity fluctuations near launch is proposed. The model provides the rms magnitude, frequency dependence and spectral band dependence of the intensity fluctuation power spectral density (PSD). Itsapplication is the missile signature component of the… More

A new Plume Laser Radar Effects Simulation (PLRES) is proposed. The objective is a software tool that predicts observables resulting from laser illumination of missile exhaust plumes and wakes. PLRES requires an imported flowfield that prescribesproperties of molecular and condensed phase… More

A near-term low-cost end-to-end optical signature code is proposed which incorporates advanced physical models and simulation methods within a unified code structure to enable unprecedented levels of computational performance (speed, fidelity) for analysis and simulation of target/background… More

Advanced interceptor seekers with active ladar systems offer enhanced capabilities for target acquisition, discrimination, tracking, and targeting of a lethal object within a ballistic missile threat train including off-nominal threats and countermeasures. Full exploitation of these capabilities… More

New innovative concepts and formulations for spectral radiation in plumes and atomspheres are proposed for incorporation in an advanced unified comprehensive radiation simulation tool for comples flow phenomena at arbitrary altitude. The innovations enable unprecedented accuracy, efficiency, and… More

The altitude region 40-70 km (signature trough region) is a segment of missile trajectories in which MDA signature simulation capability is least reliable. Important phenomena include afterburning cessation, turbulent-laminar transition, reduced mixing and onset of collision enhancement. Aero… More

A Coherent Laser Radar Target Signature (CLRTS) simulation is proposed that provides the laser wavefront to the receiver aperture. The objective is to provide the spatial and temporal description of the wavefront (amplitude and phase) at the coherent laser radar receiver for HWIL simulation. This… More

Low-thrust rocket engines (bus, vernier, divert, attitude control) operating at high altitudes can generate extended plume signatures with potential impact on forward-based missile-defense interceptor-seeker system performance. The signatures can include phenomena and features not exhibited for… More

Nonsteady plume signatures can result from transient engine operating conditions (e.g., start-up, shut-down) or evolutionary vehicle flight conditions (acceleration, ascent). Current standard codes assume constant engine/flight conditions as for a steady engine burn in a ground static test. An… More

Defense against modern ballistic missiles requires discrimination between lethal and nonlethal objects within a large number of nearly identical threats. This MDA SBIR Topic "Advanced Feature Extraction Algorithm" (AFEA) has the objective of developing and demonstrating an algorithm that can… More

Nonsteady plume signatures can result from transient engine operating conditions (e.g., start-up, shut-down) or evolutionary vehicle flight conditions (acceleration, ascent). Current standard plume signature codes assume constant engine/flight conditions as for a steady engine burn in a ground… More

Passive microwave emission from a missile plume offers potential for all-weather early launch detection because of superior microwave penetration through obscuring clouds, dust, haze, and fog. The task is to estimate through simulation the plume passive microwave signature due to gas/particle… More