facing forward into the oncoming
airstream. Initiation of HTV2’s major
breakup began as early as 120 seconds
after re-entry was detected and
extended over an altitude range of
75.6 to 66.5 km, while catastrophic
disintegration probably began
between 180 and 190 seconds after
re-entry was detected. The
acceleration magnitude trend
measured by REBR was consistent with
predictions (Ailor 2011). Once free of
HTV2, REBR continued to record data
while it initially tumbled, emerged
from its housing, and aerodynamically
stabilized. REBR impacted the South
Pacific Ocean 727 seconds after start of data recording and 531 seconds after breakup of HTV2.
Ballistic and drag coefficients were in agreement with preflight predictions. A second set of re-
entry flight tests is in work for HTV3 and ATV-3 (Weaver 2012).
PUBLICATION(S)
Feistel AS, Weaver MA, Ailor W. Comparison of reentry breakup measurements for three
atmospheric reentries. 6th IAASS Conference, Montreal, Canada; May 21-23, 2013:8.
Ailor W, Weaver MA, Feistel AS, Sorge ME. Reentry breakup recorder: Summary of data for
HTV3 and ATV-3 reentries and future directions. 6th European Conference on Space Debris,
Darmstadt, Germany; April 22-25, 2013:7.
Weaver MA, Ailor WH. Reentry breakup recorder: Concept, testing, moving forward. AIAA
SPACE 2012 Conference & Exposition, Pasadena, CA; September 11-13, 2012.
Ailor WH, Weaver MA. Reentry breakup recorder: An innovative device for collecting data
during breakup of reentering objects. 5th IAASS Conference, Versailles, France; October 17-19,
2011.
Wada K, Yamanaka K, Uematsu H, Suzuki Y, Sasaki H. Evaluation results of the HTV atmospheric
reentry trajectory. 62nd International Astronautical Congress, Cape Town, South Africa;
October 3-7, 2011.
This investigation is ongoing and additional results are pending publication.
Expedition 28 Flight Engineer Ron Garan applies copper tape
to exposed wires on the ReEntry Breakup Recorder prior to
installation in the ATV-2.