Assessment of Adaptive Guidance for Responsive Launch Vehicles and Spacecraft
Abstract
This project sets out to identify and address the need for adaptive ascent guidance techniques necessary for responsive launch. This report provides comprehensive details to two recent advanced ascent guidance algorithms, tailored to endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric optimal ascent with possibly multiple stages, respectively. These algorithms generate optimal ascent guidance commands based on the current state of the vehicle, the currently selected targeting condition, and available vehicle/environment modeling and wind information. The algorithms depend on no vehicle-specific characteristics therefore are applicable to different types of launch vehicles without the need for significantly modifying the software. Verification, validation and extensive testing of the algorithms are performed with many mission scenarios and a number of different launch vehicle configurations, including winged reusable and conventional expandable, single-stage and multiple-stage, launch vehicles. This work demonstrates that promising techniques and algorithms have reached a level where launch ascent planning can benefit from automation based on these advances to significantly reduce ascent guidance planning time and potential realization of fully closed-loop optimal ascent guidance from liftoff to orbital insertion is possible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 29, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA501767
Entities
People
- Ping Lu
Organizations
- Iowa State University