Application of numerical methods to extend capabilities for optimal rocket guidance: report on reentry guidance of shuttle orbiter
Analytical models are presented for optimal trajectories and reentry guidance of the space shuttle orbiter. Major emphasis is placed on the development of a "footprint', which refers to a set of reachable destination positions attainable by the shuttle at a specified terminal altitude. An unconstrained reentry footprint was calculated for a shuttle vehicle which enters the earth's atmosphere at 93 km initial altitude after a deboost from a near earth orbit. The method of computation is briefly described, and graphs are presented which illustrate the footprint and the variation of state and control variables along it. The effects of constraints and of variations in initial state upon the footprint are discussed.
Related Space Shuttle Documents
A Compilation of Space Shuttle Sonic Boom Measurements
Sonic boom measurements have been obtained on 26 flights of the Space Shuttle system beginning with the launch of STS-1 on April 12, 1981, to the reentry-descent of STS-41 into EAFB on Oct. 10, 1990.
A high angle of attack inviscid shuttle orbiter computation
As a preliminary step toward predicting the leeside thermal environment for winged reentry vehicles at flight conditions, a computational solution for the flow about the Shuttle Orbiter at wind tunnel
A radiant heating test facility for space shuttle orbiter thermal protection system certification
A large scale radiant heating test facility was constructed so that thermal certification tests can be performed on the new generation of thermal protection systems developed for the space shuttle orb