CHARTS FOR DETERMINING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BALLISTIC TRAJECTORIES IN A VACUUM,

Abstract

A summary of information on the trajectories of ballistic vehicles traveling in a vacuum about a nonrotating, spherical earth is presented. The graphs presented are designed to permit the user to determine with reasonable accuracy the more important parameters connected with unpowered flight outside the atmosphere. These include the range, time of flight, apogee altitude, terminal velocity, and terminal flight-path angle, all as functions of the burnout velocity, the burnout angle, and the burnout and terminal altitudes. Charts are given for quickly establishing the values of velocity, flight-path angle, time, and range along the trajectory. The range of variables examined includes burnout altitudes from 400,000 to 1,000,000 ft, burnout velocities from 2500 ft/sec to escape velocity, and burnout flight-path angles between -30 and 90 deg. Many of the graphs are presented in 'carpet-plot' form to aid in interpolation and in the visualization of the trends of the parameters. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0600087

Entities

People

  • Deane N. Morris

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Altitude
  • Atmospheres
  • Ballistic Trajectories
  • Escape Velocity
  • Flight
  • Flight Paths
  • Interpolation
  • Terminals
  • Trajectories
  • Visualizations

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers