Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Hercules Corporation

Global Environmental Solutions, Inc.

Patrick R Oyler

Richard L Raun

Bruce D Hopkins

Robert A Patterson

Steven T Newsome

Jeffrey L Nelson

Frank Jessen

Clark C De Nevers

A fairing for protecting a payload from excessive acoustic energy is disclosed. The fairing can be used with a launch vehicle for launching payloads such as satellites or the like. The invention provides structure to surround a payload and absorbs acoustic energy so that the noise is suppressed to acceptable levels and the payload is not damaged. The fairing comprises a two dimensional honeycomb core having composite face sheets and load skins bonded to each side of the core. A water barrier is connected to the inner side of the fairing to prevent moisture from entering the payload area. The fairing wall further includes a liquid which is added to the two dimensional honeycomb layer. The liquid is jettisoned during the launch of the vehicle at a predetermined time when the additional acoustic suppression provided by the mass of liquid is no longer needed. The fairing may also include an energy absorbing blanket connected to the inner side of the fairing to further suppress the energy generated by a launch vehicle.

Payload fairing with jettisonable mass acoustic suppression

A fairing for protecting a payload from excessive acoustic energy is disclosed. The fairing can be used with a launch vehicle for launching payloads such as satellites or the like. The invention provides structure to surround a payload and absorbs acoustic energy so that the noise is suppressed to acceptable levels and the payload is not damaged. The fairing comprises a two dimensional honeycomb core having composite face sheets and load skins bonded to each side of the core. A water barrier is connected to the inner side of the fairing to prevent moisture from entering the payload area. The fairing may include an energy absorbing blanket connected to the inner side of the fairing to further suppress the energy generated by a launch vehicle.

Payload fairing with improved acoustic suppression

Energetic material can be rapidly cut or machined at high speed in the substantial absence of liquid coolant with a cutting tool having a rotating cutting surface by maintaining a portion of the cutting surface out of contact with the energetic material and continuously removing the resulting reduced energetic material from the area of the cutting tool.

Dry preparation of particulate solid energetic material

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Sandy, UT, United States of America

Patrick R Oyler