Landing Leg and Aerodynamic Control Surface Mechanisms and Functional Demonstrators for the RETALT1 Launch Vehicle

Within the framework of the EU Horizon 2020 project RETALT (RETro propulsion Assisted Landing Technologies), mechanisms for the RETALT1 reference launch vehicle configuration are investigated. Almatech has studied the actuation of aerodynamic control surfaces, thrust vector control and landing leg mechanisms.

This paper presents an overview of activities, scaled demonstrator design and test of the landing legs and aerodynamic control surfaces. A scaled functional demonstrator of a single leg is built to verify the leg deployment mechanism function and its kinematics. Another scaled leg demonstrator is constructed and tested in a drop tower to verify the leg shock absorbing function, energy dissipation during touchdown. In addition, functional test of the aerodynamic control surfaces is carried out with a scaled fin demonstrator to verify kinematics of deployment from stowed to nominal position, as well as operation, and axis locking functions.