A variable-thrust rocket motor is used for achieving automatic soft landing of a space vehicle on the surface of the moon. An optical scanner measures the ratio of the velocity of approach and height above the landing surface and then adjusts the thrust of the rocket motor so that this ratio is held constant, thus assuring that both velocity and height become zero simultaneously, which is the definition of a soft landing.
Control System for Automatic Soft Landing of a Rocket Vehicle
1964
1 pages
Report
No indication
English