2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

As lunar exploration progresses, the development of safe and efficient rocket landing systems is crucial for future moon missions. Current landing methods on the lunar surface generate hazardous debris and pose risks to facilities, equipment, and personnel. Naked flat landing pads, while mitigating many issues, are prone to severe erosion, burnout, and gas penetration, and deflect significant acoustic loads, all of which compromise overall safety and structural integrity. The utilization of deflector cones presents a promising solution, by dispersing exhaust gases and reducing fluid dynamics effects on the surface. This research aims to identify the optimal geometric characteristics of deflector cones to maximize safety and efficiency during lunar landings. A comprehensive literature review and data analysis were conducted, focusing on parameters such as impingement angle, impingement point distance, and effective radius of curvature. Key findings suggest that minimizing the impingement angle and maximizing the impingement area and effective radius of curvature are critical design considerations. Incorporating features like dimples near the cone apex are discussed to further enhance aerodynamic properties, reducing pressure and thermal loads. This study advances the understanding of deflector cone design, contributing to safer and more sustainable lunar missions.