Optimal Trajectories for the Flyback Shuttle.
Abstract
A new procedure for the optimization of branched-path systems is successfully applied to flyback shuttle trajectories. The boundary and transversality conditions are satisfied by three extremals that meet at an arbitrarily chosen branch point. The position of the branch point is then improved, and the cycle repeated. The performance index for the orbiter branch is the weight place in orbit. For the booster-return branch it is the square of the distance between the final point and the landing field. he complete family of trajectories representing the various trade-offs between these two indices is calculated for a problem that specifies the landing field as coinciding with the launch site. The computer program also has the capability of handling down-range landing sites, orbital rendezvous and intercept, and aerodynamic load constraints. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0746656
Entities
People
- H. Gardner Moyer
Organizations
- Grumman