PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE TRAJECTORIES

Abstract

Included in this report are studies of ballistic trajectories for a point mass moving in three degrees of freedom relative to a rotating oblate earth. All trajectories are launched from Vandenberg AFB, California to points of interest in the Pacific Missile Range. A running account of the position, forces exerted on the vehicle, and atmospheric information is given throughout the trajectory with a more detailed account given from reentry into the atmosphere to impact. Vernier Engine Cut-Off (VECO) occurs at the same range from Vandenberg $<#.$% NAUTICAL MILES) and at the same altitude (1,086,502 feet) for all five trajectories. Velocity, flight path angle, and heading angle were varied at VECO for each trajectory to achieve impact in the desired areas. Since it was desired to achieve a 20 degree re entry angle, these trajectories do not represent minimum energy trajectories. Reentry is considered to occur between the altitudes of 300,000 and 400,000 feet. The Standard ARDC 1959 Atmosphere Model was used in computing these trajectories.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0405121

Entities

People

  • Lawrence C. Callaway

Organizations

  • Air Force Special Weapons Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Birds
  • Christmas Island
  • Flight
  • Flight Paths
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Johnston Island
  • Kwajalein Atoll
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Midway Island
  • Molecular Orbital Theory
  • New Mexico
  • United States
  • Wake Island

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • ballistics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers