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As space exploration programs around the world continue with accelerated plans for planetary robotic missions and human expeditions to Mars, the Moon, and beyond, laying the groundwork for even more complex human science expeditions, the need for spacecraft to land safely on planetary surfaces has become increasingly challenging because of the use of massive and hauling larger payloads required to accommodate the extended stays on the Martian and Lunar surface. Advances in supersonic decelerator technology investigates re-entry vehicle designs that evaluate reliable techniques for safe planetary atmospheric re-entry. Decelerator design engineers are investigating the use atmospheric drag as a solution to save rocket engines and fuel for final manoeuvres and landing procedures. The heavier planetary landers of tomorrow will require much larger drag devices use to slow them down during re-entry deployed at higher supersonic speeds to safely land vehicle, crew, and cargo. Aerial entry, descend, and landings system model validation and verification are an area in the aerodynamic decelerator community that is constantly growing and innovating.

The research work presented in this paper describes progress steps by our collaborating group geared towards the automated production of Smart parachute broadcloth fabrics instrumented with weaved fiber optic sensors suitable for monitoring the load and strain dynamics of a parachute canopy during airborne deployment, and the subsequent methodology use for the fabrication assembly of down-scale test parachutes used for testing the aerodynamic properties of the parachute during ejection and descend of the parachute canopy structure. The fiber optic sensors are woven into the broadcloth using various weaving methods to find the most consistent and repeatable response to stress and strain in the cloth. This research has focused on the use of plastic optical fiber strain sensors that have almost identical elongation properties to the parachute canopy Nylon broadcloth fabrics for which they will impregnate. Experimental results on the Smart parachute fabrication assembly, laboratory calibration testing, and the canopy load and strain dynamics during airborne deployment will be demonstrated.

We report on the internal examination of mid-infrared chalcogenide glasses using near-infrared light to reveal light-scattering defects. The technique is demonstrated on imperfectly made chalcogenide glass rods and fiber. This simple, non-destructive technique enables assessment of the interior of glasses and convenient detection of regions containing defects hidden due to the glass opacity to visible light. This method will reveal the presence of unwanted light-scattering defects including nucleated crystals, dust, striae, and bubbles. Hence, this method will help to optimize both chalcogenide glass chemical formulations, against devitrification, and process design to manufacture glass rods and fiber with minimized light scattering defects.