Airborne re-entry observation experiment SLIT: UV spectroscopy during STARDUST and ATV1 re-entry

Emission spectra during re-entry have been measured in 2006 for the STARDUST capsule and in 2008 for the ATV1 “Jules Verne” re-entry. This paper summarizes the approach to design the airborne UV spectroscopic setup and its modifications with respect to the missions. For the STARDUST mission, results of data analysis of data presented in 2008 are given while for the ATV1 observation first spectra of the main disruption are exemplary presented. The surface radiation during the STARDUST re-entry is used to estimate convective and radiative heat flux using different analytical models. A first look at the spectroscopic footprint of ATV1 shows that during the first explosive event, a severe break-up of the main ATV1 structure occurs. However, a correlation with an explosion of fuel could not be observed.