An infrasound source analysis of the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule hypersonic re-entry

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Bishop, Jordan W., Blom, Philip, Carr, Chris, Webster, Jeremy
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Bishop, Jordan W.
Blom, Philip
Carr, Chris
Webster, Jeremy
author_facet Bishop, Jordan W.
Blom, Philip
Carr, Chris
Webster, Jeremy
contents The OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule hypersonic re-entry into the atmosphere is a rare opportunity to test a variety of sonic boom source models since the projectile dimensions are well characterized. While the as-flown flight path is unknown, the predicted flight path enables a rough approximation of the source Mach number and location. Six infrasound microphones deployed in the boom carpet along the predicted flight path recorded impulsive signals from the OSIRIS-REx re-entry. Using a suite of atmosphere profiles and the geometric acoustics approximation, we estimate locations with uncertainty estimates along the flight path from which the signals were emitted. Acoustic overpressure and signal duration predictions from Whitham's far field theory, Carlson's simplified sonic boom prediction method, and a drag-dominated hypersonic model are analyzed with uncertainty estimates from the location estimate. While the Carlson simplified sonic boom prediction method could be accurate, our preference is for the drag-dominated source model. Using this source model with an inviscid Burgers' equation solver for propagation, we obtained an excellent match to the recorded data. These results will help better inform future sample return capsule re-entry observation campaigns as well as contribute to a better understanding of high altitude infrasonic sources.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_03119
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An infrasound source analysis of the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule hypersonic re-entry
Bishop, Jordan W.
Blom, Philip
Carr, Chris
Webster, Jeremy
Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Geophysics
The OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule hypersonic re-entry into the atmosphere is a rare opportunity to test a variety of sonic boom source models since the projectile dimensions are well characterized. While the as-flown flight path is unknown, the predicted flight path enables a rough approximation of the source Mach number and location. Six infrasound microphones deployed in the boom carpet along the predicted flight path recorded impulsive signals from the OSIRIS-REx re-entry. Using a suite of atmosphere profiles and the geometric acoustics approximation, we estimate locations with uncertainty estimates along the flight path from which the signals were emitted. Acoustic overpressure and signal duration predictions from Whitham's far field theory, Carlson's simplified sonic boom prediction method, and a drag-dominated hypersonic model are analyzed with uncertainty estimates from the location estimate. While the Carlson simplified sonic boom prediction method could be accurate, our preference is for the drag-dominated source model. Using this source model with an inviscid Burgers' equation solver for propagation, we obtained an excellent match to the recorded data. These results will help better inform future sample return capsule re-entry observation campaigns as well as contribute to a better understanding of high altitude infrasonic sources.
title An infrasound source analysis of the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule hypersonic re-entry
topic Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Geophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.03119