Footprint Determination for Reusable Launch Vehicles Experiencing Control Effector Failures

Footprint Determination for Reusable Launch Vehicles Experiencing Control Effector Failures PDF

Author: David B. Doman

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 10

ISBN-13:

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The ability to compute the maximum area on the earth's surface (footprint) reachable by an autonomous air vehicle can be useful in planning for the vehicle's safe operations. The information can be important when the vehicle experiences subsystem failures causing it to be unable to maintain its nominal performance. In this paper, we present a method to calculate the footprint of a reusable launch vehicle that experiences a failure in one or more of its aero-control surfaces. During a control effector failure, the maximum attainable moments of the vehicle are reduced, which may decrease the range of conditions that the vehicle can maintain a trimmed condition. Additionally, the lift and drag characteristics of the vehicle can change when control effectors are moved to off-nominal positions to correct for moment imbalance caused by failures or damage. As a result, the footprint of the vehicle is reduced. A technique for calculating the available effectiveness of the aero-control surfaces is used in conjunction with a footprint generation algorithm to include the effects of rotational trim on the vehicle footprint.

Longitudinal Control and Footprint Analysis for a Reusable Military Launch Vehicle

Longitudinal Control and Footprint Analysis for a Reusable Military Launch Vehicle PDF

Author: Anhtuan D. Ngo

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 10

ISBN-13:

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In this paper, we will examine a configuration for a reusable military launch vehicle (RMLS) concept. This configuration allows for the vehicle to land in an inverted attitude. Such inverted landing improves the turnaround time of the vehicle by reducing the maintenance requirements of the vehicle's thermal protection system. An analysis is performed to examine the impacts by the configuration on stability, control, and footprint for an RMLS configuration.

Optimal Trajectory Reconfiguration and Retargeting for the X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle

Optimal Trajectory Reconfiguration and Retargeting for the X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle PDF

Author: Patrick J. Shaffer

Publisher:

Published: 2004-09-01

Total Pages: 151

ISBN-13: 9781423519539

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This thesis considers the problem of generating optimal entry trajectories for a reusable launch vehicle following a control surface failure. The thesis builds upon the work of Dr. David Doman, Dr. Michael Oppenheimer and Dr. Michael Bolender of the Air Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Lab Dayton Ohio. The primary focus of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of inner loop reconfiguration and outer loop trajectory retargeting and replanning for the X-33 reusable launch vehicle (RLV) following the imposition of a control surface failure. The trajectory generation model employs path constraints generated by an AFRL trim deficiency algorithm coupled with an inner loop control allocator and aerodynamic database that captures the full 6-DOF vehicle aerodynamic effects while utilizing an outer loop 3-DOF model. The resulting optimal trajectory does not violate the trim deficiency constraints and provides additional margins for trajectories flown during failure conditions. The footprints generated by the thesis show that contemporary footprint analysis for vehicles experiencing control surface failures are overly optimistic when compared to those footprints that consider vehicle aerodynamic stability and realistic landable attitudes at the threshold of the landing runway. The results of the thesis also show the performance reductions resulting from decoupling the inner and outer loop and that trajectories can be generated to the landing runway without using a region of terminal area energy management.

Reusable Launch Vehicle

Reusable Launch Vehicle PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1996-01-08

Total Pages: 98

ISBN-13: 0309175860

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The key to opening the use of space to private enterprise and to broader public uses lies in reducing the cost of the transportation to space. More routine, affordable access to space will entail aircraft-like quick turnaround and reliable operations. Currently, the space Shuttle is the only reusable launch vehicle, and even parts of it are expendable while other parts require frequent and extensive refurbishment. NASA's highest priority new activity, the Reusable Launch Vehicle program, is directed toward developing technologies to enable a new generation of space launchers, perhaps but not necessarily with single stage to orbit capability. This book assesses whether the technology development, test and analysis programs in propulsion and materials-related technologies are properly constituted to provide the information required to support a December 1996 decision to build the X-33, a technology demonstrator vehicle; and suggest, as appropriate, necessary changes in these programs to ensure that they will support vehicle feasibility goals.

An Algorithm for Computing the Range of Trimable Angle of Attack for Aircraft Experiencing Effector Failures

An Algorithm for Computing the Range of Trimable Angle of Attack for Aircraft Experiencing Effector Failures PDF

Author: Joseph Kaloust

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 14

ISBN-13:

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This paper presents a method for computing the range of angle of attack for which an air vehicle can be rotationally trimmed when experiencing control effector failures. The algorithms are applied to an unpowered reentry vehicle as an example. Types of failures considered include floating effectors that do not contribute to the aerodynamic forces and moments or effectors that are locked at a given position within the effector displacement range. The algorithm can provide critical information to online trajectory generators or path planners for autonomous air vehicles.

Reusable Booster System

Reusable Booster System PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2013-01-10

Total Pages: 115

ISBN-13: 0309266564

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On June 15, 2011, the Air Force Space Command established a new vision, mission, and set of goals to ensure continued U.S. dominance in space and cyberspace mission areas. Subsequently, and in coordination with the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Space and Missile Systems Center, and the 14th and 24th Air Forces, the Air Force Space Command identified four long-term science and technology (S&T) challenges critical to meeting these goals. One of these challenges is to provide full-spectrum launch capability at dramatically lower cost, and a reusable booster system (RBS) has been proposed as an approach to meet this challenge. The Air Force Space Command asked the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of the National Research Council to conduct an independent review and assessment of the RBS concept prior to considering a continuation of RBS-related activities within the Air Force Research Laboratory portfolio and before initiating a more extensive RBS development program. The committee for the Reusable Booster System: Review and Assessment was formed in response to that request and charged with reviewing and assessing the criteria and assumptions used in the current RBS plans, the cost model methodologies used to fame [frame?] the RBS business case, and the technical maturity and development plans of key elements critical to RBS implementation. The committee consisted of experts not connected with current RBS activities who have significant expertise in launch vehicle design and operation, research and technology development and implementation, space system operations, and cost analysis. The committee solicited and received input on the Air Force launch requirements, the baseline RBS concept, cost models and assessment, and technology readiness. The committee also received input from industry associated with RBS concept, industry independent of the RBS concept, and propulsion system providers which is summarized in Reusable Booster System: Review and Assessment.

Space Shuttle Missions Summary (NASA/TM-2011-216142)

Space Shuttle Missions Summary (NASA/TM-2011-216142) PDF

Author: Robert D. Legler

Publisher: www.Militarybookshop.CompanyUK

Published: 2011-09-01

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 9781782662235

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Full color publication. This document has been produced and updated over a 21-year period. It is intended to be a handy reference document, basically one page per flight, and care has been exercised to make it as error-free as possible. This document is basically "as flown" data and has been compiled from many sources including flight logs, flight rules, flight anomaly logs, mod flight descent summary, post flight analysis of mps propellants, FDRD, FRD, SODB, and the MER shuttle flight data and inflight anomaly list. Orbit distance traveled is taken from the PAO mission statistics.