Soft, precise landings may be needed for logistic support of future manned missions; terminal descent guidance concept proposed uses proportional navigation plus logarithmic deceleration in initial guided phase of flight and switches at predetermined range to unguided gravity turn, thereby achieving soft landing with vertical attitude at touchdown; guidance simulation studies have shown concept to be effective in reducing target miss distance resulting from dispersions in initial flight conditions, caused by uncertainties in retro burnout and errors in instrument measurement and command execution; landing accuracy of 500-ft circular error probability is achievable.
Terminal guidance for soft and accurate lunar landing for unmanned spacecraft
J Spacecraft Rockets
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets ; 5 , n 6
1968
5 pages
Article (Journal)
English
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