An actual geosynchronous Earth orbit-to-low Earth orbit (GEO-to-LEO) transfer is considered with reference to the aeroassisted flight experiment (AFE) spacecraft, and optimal trajectories are determined by minimizing the total characteristic velocity. The optimization is performed with respect to the time history of the controls (angle of attack and angle of bank), the entry path inclination and the flight time being free. Two transfer maneuvers are considered: direct ascent (DA) to LEO and indirect ascent (IA) to LEO via parking Earth orbit (PEO). By taking into account certain assumptions, the complete system can be decoupled into two subsystems: one describing the longitudinal motion and one describing the lateral motion. The angle of attack history, the entry path inclination, and the flight time are determined via the longitudinal motion subsystem. In this subsystem, the difference between the instantaneous bank angle and a constant bank angle is minimized in the least square sense subject to the specified orbital inclination requirement. Both the angles of attack and the angle of bank are shown to be constant. This result has considerable importance in the design of nominal trajectories to be used in the guidance of AFE and aeroassisted orbital transfer (AOT) vehicles.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Decomposition technique and optimal trajectories for the aeroassisted flight experiment


    Contributors:
    Miele, A. (author) / Wang, T. (author) / Deaton, A. W. (author)

    Publication date :

    1990-01-01


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :



    Optimal trajectories for the aeroassisted flight experiment

    Miele, A. / Wang, T. / Lee, W. Y. et al. | NTRS | 1989


    Optimal trajectories for the aeroassisted flight experiment

    Miele, A. / Wang, T. / Lee, W. Y. et al. | NTRS | 1989


    Optimal Trajectories for the Aeroassisted Flight Experiment

    A. Miele / T. Wang / W. Y. Lee et al. | NTIS | 1989