Lambert Algorithm Including Drag
Abstract
An algorithm is developed that solves Lambert's problem when a vehicle encounters drag. For an environment of low to moderate atmospheric density, Lambert's solution is obtained by linearizing about a reference Keplerian trajectory. This linearization process requires no numerical ordinary differential equation solution techniques and, as such, is computationally efficient. For flight through a region of higher atmospheric density, or if greater accuracy is required, an iterative technique is used that starts with the linearized solution and does a quasi-Newton iteration process with an analytic initial approximation to the Jacobian. For subsequent iterations, the Jacobian estimate is updated using Broyden's update. The resulting algorithm converges superlinearly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA263897
Entities
People
- J. A. Lawton
Organizations
- Naval Surface Warfare Center