Challenge of developmental flight instrumentation for orion exploration flight test 1: Potential benefit of wireless technology for future Orion missions

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has developed the Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) named Orion to readiness for its first test flight in 2014. The spacecraft is unique in its design to support deep space missions. In order to successfully man-rate the vehicle a series of two unmanned flight tests are scheduled (Exploration Flight Test 1, Exploration Mission 1), followed by the first crewed flight Exploration Mission 2. Accomplishing Flight Test Objectives (FTOs) for the flight tests requires a dedicated instrumentation system that will measure dynamic response of all vehicle subsystem performance during critical phases of the EFT-1 and EM-1 missions. These include structural response, and Thermal Protection System (TPS) response during atmospheric reentry. A suite of avionics data acquisition system electronics along with associated cabling supports the large number of channels. This paper shall discuss the architecture of the EFT-1 data system designed to meet FTO´s at low risk, and the potential effect on mass with new technology using wireless applications. Also described will be an architecture that could decrease mass by a factor 10, or more with and without wireless capability.