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At least 379 records · Page 21

An interplanetary targeting and orbit insertion maneuver design technique

The paper describes a tradeoff in selecting a planetary encounter aimpoint and a spacecraft propulsive maneuver strategy in the Pioneer Venus Orbiter Mission. The method uses parametric data spanning a region of acceptable targeting aimpoints in the delivery space and the geometric considerations. Real-time maneuver adjustments accounted for known attitude control errors, orbit determination updates, and late changes in a targeting specification.

Hintz, G. R.↗

Maneuver reconstruction techniques for open-loop spin-stabilized spacecraft

The Pioneer missions were supported by spin-stabilized spacecraft designs using open-loop control and blow-down propulsion subsystems. Reliable estimates of the ever-changing performance inherent to these subsystems were needed to effectively design and reconstruct trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) strategies. These performance updates were obtained by adjusting model parameters to match independent telemetric and radiometric observations to define the simultaneous changes in attitude, velocity, and spin rate during a maneuver sequence.

Frauenholz, R. B.↗

Horizontal Conflict Resolution Maneuvers with a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information

Pilot resolution of potential conflicts in the horizontal plane when the only information available on the other aircraft was presented on a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) is investigated. The pilot's task was to assess the situation and if necessary maneuver so as to avoid the other aircraft. No instructions were given on evasive strategy or on what was considered to be an acceptable minimum separation. The results indicate that pilots had a strong bias of turning toward the intruder aircraft in order to pass behind it. In more than 50% of the encounters with a 90 degree crossing angle in which the intruder aircraft was programmed to pass behind the aircraft, the pilots maneuvered so as to pass behind the intruder. This bias was not as strong with the display which showed a prediction of the intruder's relative velocity. The average miss distance for all encounters was about 4500 feet.

Palmer, E.↗

Methodology for determining elevon deflections to trim and maneuver the DAST vehicle with negative static margin

The relationships between elevon deflection and static margin using elements from static and dynamic stability and control and from classical control theory are emphasized. Expressions are derived and presented for calculating elevon deflections required to trim the vehicle in lg straight-and-level flight and to perform specified longitudinal and lateral maneuvers. Applications of this methodology are made at several flight conditions for the ARW-2 wing. On the basis of these applications, it appears possible to trim and maneuver the vehicle with the existing elevons at -15% static margin.

Perry, B., III↗

An investigation of the use of a propulsive wing/canard concept for improved maneuvering

The propulsive wing concept is an extension of the flap boundary layer control utilized on several aircraft configurations. Several studies have been made regarding the benefits of the propulsive wing in STOL operation. However, the propulsive wing/canard provides performance benefits also in areas other than STOL. It is expected to improve the maneuvering capability by providing reduced drag at high lift coefficients without appreciably affecting the low lift drag. An increase in the buffet free load factor can also be expected with the blown wing and canard. Attention is given to a program to investigate the wing/canard at maneuvering conditions, and tests at ranges of blowing coefficients equivalent to STOL operation.

Stewart, V. R.↗

Statistics of Delta v magnitude for a trajectory correction maneuver containing deterministic and random components

A number of interplanetary missions now being planned involve placing deterministic maneuvers along the flight path to alter the trajectory. Lee and Boain (1973) examined the statistics of trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) magnitude with no deterministic ('bias') component. The Delta v vector magnitude statistics were generated for several values of random Delta v standard deviations using expansions in terms of infinite hypergeometric series. The present investigation uses a different technique (Monte Carlo simulation) to generate Delta v magnitude statistics for a wider selection of random Delta v standard deviations and also extends the analysis to the case of nonzero deterministic Delta v's. These Delta v magnitude statistics are plotted parametrically. The plots are useful in assisting the analyst in quickly answering questions about the statistics of Delta v magnitude for single TCM's consisting of both a deterministic and a random component. The plots provide quick insight into the nature of the Delta v magnitude distribution for the TCM.

Bollman, W. E.↗

Fuel optimal maneuvers of spacecraft about a circular orbit

Fuel optimal maneuvers of spacecraft relative to a body in circular orbit are investigated using a point mass model in which the magnitude of the thrust vector is bounded. All nonsingular optimal maneuvers consist of intervals of full thrust and coast and are found to contain at most seven such intervals in one period. Only four boundary conditions where singular solutions occur are possible. Computer simulation of optimal flight path shapes and switching functions are found for various boundary conditions. Emphasis is placed on the problem of soft rendezvous with a body in circular orbit.

Carter, T. E.↗

The manned maneuvering unit flight controller arm

The Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) and its support equipment provide an extravehicular astronaut mobility, and the ability to work outside the confines of the Shuttle Orbiter payload bay. The MMU design requirements are based on the highly successful Skylab M-509 maneuvering unit. Design of the MMU was started as an R&D effort in April 1975 and Flight Hardware design was started in August 1979 to support a possible requirement for in-space inspection and repair of Orbiter thermal protection tiles. Subsequently, the qualification test and production activities were slowed, and the current projected earliest first flight is now STS-11 in January, 1984. The MMU propulsion subsystem provides complete redundancy with two identical "system". Each system contains a high pressure gaseous nitrogen tank, an isolation valve, a regulator, and twelve 1.7 lbf (7.5 N) thrusters. The thrusters are packaged to provide the crew member six-degree-of-freedom control in response to commands from translational and rotational hand controllers. This paper discusses the MMU control arm requirements, design, and developmental history.

Falkner, K. E.↗

A supersonic maneuver wing designed for nonlinear attached flow

A wing designed using the concept of attached supercritical crossflow for supersonic maneuvering aircraft wings has been built and tested. The detailed wing shape was determined using nonlinear potential flow computational aerodynamics methods to obtain a specified target pressure distribution. The test results showed that the target pressures were essentially obtained and that the drag-due-to-lift values at maneuver lift coefficients were considerably less than those expected using linear theory design procedures. The paper provides a detailed description of the wing design and test, and an analysis of the results.

Mason, W. H.↗

Low-speed investigation of the maneuver capability of supersonic fighter wings

A low-speed investigation of wings suitable for supersonic fighter application was undertaken to understand the flow regions developed by these wings through flow visualization and to evaluate areas in which low-speed testing could provide information for extrapolation to higher Mach numbers and Reynolds numbers. This study involved cranked wings of highly-swept inboard panels and outboard panel of various sweeps with leading- and trailing-edge devices. Both theoretical and experimental results with flow visualization are presented. Flow visualization results show that a mixed flow condition (vortex flow on the highly-swept inboard section and attached flow on the cranked outboard section) is possible for wings with low sweep (20 deg) outboard cranked sections. Lift and drag measurements on the planar (no flap deflection) wings show good agreement with theoretical results for leading-edge vortex flow. There is little or no change in planar wing performance at maneuver conditions due to outboard sweep effects. Results also show that for cambered wings (flap deflected) only small improvements in performance over flat wings were obtained at high-lift maneuver conditions.

Hom, K. W.↗

Effect of thrust vectoring and wing maneuver devices on transonic aeropropulsive characteristics of a supersonic fighter

The aeropropulsive characteristics of an advanced fighter designed for supersonic cruise were determined in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel. The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate the interactive effects of thrust vectoring and wing maneuver devices on lift and drag and to determine trim characteristics. The wing maneuver devices consisted of a drooped leading edge and a trailing-edge flap. Thrust vectoring was accomplished with two dimensional (nonaxisymmetric) convergent-divergent nozzles located below the wing in two single-engine podded nacelles. A canard was utilized for trim. Thrust vector angles of 0 deg, 15 deg, and 30 deg were tested in combination with a drooped wing leading edge and with wing trailing-edge flap deflections up to 30 deg. This investigation was conducted at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 1.20, at angles of attack from 0 deg to 20 deg, and at nozzle pressure ratios from about 1 (jet off) to 10. Reynolds number based on mean aerodynamic chord varied from 9.24 x 10 to the 6th to 10.56 x 10 to the 6th.

Capone, F. J.↗

Trends in shuttle entry heating from the correction of flight test maneuvers

A new technique was developed to systematically expand the aerothermodynamic envelope of the Space Shuttle Protection System (TPS). The technique required transient flight test maneuvers which were performed on the second, fourth, and fifth Shuttle reentries. Kalman filtering and parameter estimation were used for the reduction of embedded thermocouple data to obtain best estimates of aerothermal parameters. Difficulties in reducing the data were overcome or minimized. Thermal parameters were estimated to minimize uncertainties, and heating rate parameters were estimated to correlate with angle of attack, sideslip, deflection angle, and Reynolds number changes. Heating trends from the maneuvers allow for rapid and safe envelope expansion needed for future missions, except for some local areas.

Hodge, J. K.↗

Development and Evaluation of a Performance Modeling Flight Test Approach Based on Quasi Steady-State Maneuvers

The development, implementation and flight test evaluation of a performance modeling technique which required a limited amount of quasisteady state flight test data to predict the overall one g performance characteristics of an aircraft. The concept definition phase of the program include development of: (1) the relationship for defining aerodynamic characteristics from quasi steady state maneuvers; (2) a simplified in flight thrust and airflow prediction technique; (3) a flight test maneuvering sequence which efficiently provided definition of baseline aerodynamic and engine characteristics including power effects on lift and drag; and (4) the algorithms necessary for cruise and flight trajectory predictions. Implementation of the concept include design of the overall flight test data flow, definition of instrumentation system and ground test requirements, development and verification of all applicable software and consolidation of the overall requirements in a flight test plan.

Yechout, T. R.↗

Conflict resolution maneuvers during near miss encounters with cockpit traffic displays

The benefits and liabilities associated with pilots' use of a cockpit traffic display to assess the threat posed by air traffic and to make small maneuvers to avoid situations which would result in collision avoidance advisories are experimentally studied. The crew's task was to fly a simulated wide-body aircraft along a straight course at constant altitude while intruder aircraft appeared on a variety of converging trajectories. The main experimental variables were the amount and quality of the information displayed on the intruder aircraft's estimated future position. Pilots were to maintain a horizontal separation of at least 1.5 nautical miles or a vertical separation of 500 ft, so that collision avoidance advisories would not be triggered. The results show that pilots could usually maneuver to provide the specified separation but often made course deviations greater than 1.5 nm or 500 ft.

Palmer, E.↗

Trajectories and orbital maneuvers for the ISEE-3/ICE comet mission

The ISEE-3/ICE spacecraft, (launched in 1978), and expected to obtain the first measurements of comet Giacobinni-Zinner in September 1985, has undertaken a combination of propulsive maneuvers, lunar swing-bys, and solar perturbations to produce its present trajectory profile. ISEE-3 is a drum-shaped, spin-stabilized spacecraft equipped with a redundant pair of high-resolution sun sensors, a medium-gain S-band antenna, a hydrazine propulsion system and a science experiment payload. After being placed into a sun-earth libration halo orbit in late 1978, ISEE-3 was retargeted to the geomagnetotail in mid-1982 and became the first spacecraft to explore the geomagnetic tail between 80 and 237 earth radii in 1983. These types of maneuvers may prove important for future scientific missions planned as follow-ons to ISEE-3/ICE, such as a joint NASA/ISAS project spacecraft scheduled for Shuttle launch in 1991, and a possible encounter with two comets in 1996 anad 1998.

Farquhar, R.↗

Constrained maneuver strategies for Project Galileo

The design of maneuvers for Project Galileo is constrained by thruster configuration, modes of thruster usage and limitations required for the safety of the spacecraft and its instruments. The methods used to analyze maneuvers with respect to these constraints is described. The velocity changes necessary for the implementation of a candidate trajectory have been studied and some general conclusions are described.

Stanford, R. H.↗

Directional solidification of flake and nodular cast iron during KC-135 low-g maneuvers

Alloys solidified in a low-gravity environment can, due to the elimination of sedimentation and convection, form unique and often desirable microstructures. One method of studying the effects of low-gravity (low-g) on alloy solidification was the use of the NASA KC-135 aircraft flying repetitive low-g maneuvers. Each maneuver gives from 20 to 30 seconds of low-g which is between about 0.1 and 0.001 gravity. A directional solidification furnace was used to study the behavior of off eutectic composition case irons in a low-g environment. The solidification interface of hypereutectic flake and spheroidal graphite case irons was slowly advanced through a rod sample, 5 mm in diameter. Controlled solidification was continued through a number of aircraft parabolas. The known solidification rate of the sample was then correlated with accelerometer data to determine the gravity level during solidification for any location of the sample. The thermal gradient and solidification rate were controlled independently. Samples run on the KC-135 aircraft exhibited bands of coarser graphite or of larger nodules usually corresponding to the regions solidified under low-g. Samples containing high phosphorous (used in order to determine the eutectic cell) exhibited larger eutectic cells in the low-g zone, followed by a band of coarser graphite.

Curreri, P. A.↗