A natural successor in the Shuttle era to many sounding rocket flights is the free-flyer mode of operation, in which the Shuttle Orbiter releases a subsatellite (with payload), effects a desired separation, and finally approaches and retrieves the free-flyer. This paper proposes replacing, to the maximum extent feasible, the propulsive maneuvers required for the Orbiter by equivalent relative motions obtained through controlled differential drag (via changes in free-flyer effective area and/or Orbiter attitude changes). Simplified analytical techniques are developed and feasibility is verified. Several illustrative examples are specified (e.g., a 3-km separation in 1 day, with 4-day return).


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    Title :

    Propulsion-free separation and rendezvous of small Shuttle free-flyers using controlled differential drag


    Contributors:
    King, J. C. (author)

    Conference:

    Sounding Rocket Technology Conference ; 1979 ; Houston, TX


    Publication date :

    1979-01-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English