The availability of the Space Transportation System has provided a unique opportunity for deployment of atmospheric entry experiments. These experiments require a trajectory design that provides a well-defined and controlled flight environment. Items addressed in this paper include control of thermal and aerodynamic loading consistent with the test objectives, maintenance of acceptable velocity-altitude conditions, and accommodation of tracking and recovery requirements. Various strategies, including constant-drag flight, equilibrium glide, and controlled linear velocity-altitude flight segments are employed to effect desired trajectory conditions. Algorithms to match thermal constraints to entry conditions and vehicle aerodynamic configuration are also discussed.
Entry trajectory shaping for Shuttle-deployed experiments
Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference ; 1981 ; Albuquerque, NM
1981-08-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Shuttle /STS-1/ entry trajectory reconstruction
AIAA | 1981
|Shuttle /STS-1/ entry trajectory reconstruction
NTRS | 1981
|