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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records

Asymmetrical booster ascent guidance and control system design study. Volume 5: Space shuttle powered explicit guidance

An optimum powered explicit guidance algorithm capable of handling all space shuttle exoatospheric maneuvers is presented. The theoretical and practical basis for the currently baselined space shuttle powered flight guidance equations and logic is documented. Detailed flow diagrams for implementing the steering computations for all shuttle phases, including powered return to launch site (RTLS) abort, are also presented. Derivation of the powered RTLS algorithm is provided, as well as detailed flow diagrams for implementing the option. The flow diagrams and equations are compatible with the current powered flight documentation.

Jaggers, R. F.↗

Extending Explicit Guidance Methods to Higher Dimensions, Additional Conditions, and Higher Order Integration

Guidance functions play critical roles in autonomy to steer vehicles and aircraft to the intended target or destination. Explicit guidance (E Guidance) solves the two-point boundary value problem with initial and final conditions for position and velocity. The original formulation of explicit guidance involves translational acceleration commands with a direct relationship to time, and it is possible to modify E Guidance for rotational acceleration. Other extensions for E Guidance include higher dimensions, additional conditions, and higher-order integration of the linearly independent E Guidance functions. The most promising extension involves higher-order integration of the E Guidance functions, but it may be physically impractical by initially moving away from the target. This paper provides a brief overview of some methods that extend E Guidance to higher dimensions, utilize additional conditions, or perform higher-order integration, and if they satisfy the two-point boundary value problem.

explicit guidance↗

Extending Explicit Guidance Methods to Higher Dimensions, Additional Conditions, and Higher Order Integration

Guidance functions play critical roles in autonomy to steer vehicles and aircraft to the intended target or destination. Explicit guidance (E Guidance) solves the two-point boundary value problem with initial and final conditions for position and velocity. The original formulation of E Guidance involves translational acceleration commands with a direct relationship to time, and it is possible to modify E Guidance for rotational acceleration. Other extensions for E Guidance include higher dimensions, additional conditions, and higher-order integration of the linearly independent E Guidance functions. The most promising extension involves higher-order integration of the E Guidance functions, but it may be physically impractical by initially moving away from the target. This paper provides a brief overview of some methods that extend E Guidance to higher dimensions, utilize additional conditions, or perform higher-order integration, and if they satisfy the two-point boundary value problem.

explicit guidance↗

Proposed powered explicit guidance thrust integrals derivation/implementation. Mission planning, mission analysis and software formulation

A new exoatmospheric, powered explicit guidance (PEG) thrust integral formulation and a simple method of implementation are presented. The new thrust integral formulation is significantly simpler than that currently used in PEG. Preliminary estimates indicate a computer storage savings of 220 words, which is approximately 10 percent of the current PEG ascent program. Alternate methods of implementation that could produce even more savings are noted.

Jaggers, R. F.↗

Dispersion analysis for baseline reference mission 3A using powered explicit guidance

A dispersion analysis considering 3 sigma uncertainties (or perturbations) in platform, vehicle, and environmental parameters was performed for baseline reference mission 3A. Powered explicit guidance (PEG) was used to develop closed loop steering commands for this dispersion analysis. The nominal profile for the dispersion analysis is identical to the nominal profile of Reference 1 ascent trajectory with the exception that generalized linear tangent (GLT) guidance is used in Reference 1. Nominal trajectory differences which result from using PEG instead of GLT were determined and dispersion data were developed using PEG for comparison with similar data developed using GLT guidance.

Snow, L. S.↗

Powered Explicit Guidance Modifications and Enhancements for Space Launch System Block-1 and Block-1B Vehicles

NASA is currently building the Space Launch System (SLS) Block-1 launch vehicle for the Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) test flight. NASA is also currently designing the next evolution of SLS, the Block-1B. The Block-1 and Block-1B vehicles will use the Powered Explicit Guidance (PEG) algorithm (of Space Shuttle heritage) for closed loop guidance. To accommodate vehicle capabilities and design for future evolutions of SLS, modifications were made to PEG for Block-1 to handle multi-phase burns, provide PEG updated propulsion information, and react to a core stage engine out. In addition, due to the relatively low thrust-to-weight ratio of the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) and EUS carrying out Lunar Vicinity and Earth Escape missions, certain enhancements to the Block-1 PEG algorithm are needed to perform Block-1B missions to account for long burn arcs and target translunar and hyperbolic orbits. This paper describes the design and implementation of modifications to the Block-1 PEG algorithm as compared to Space Shuttle. Furthermore, this paper illustrates challenges posed by the Block-1B vehicle and the required PEG enhancements. These improvements make PEG capable for use on the SLS Block-1B vehicle as part of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) System.

Von der Porten, Paul↗

Explicit guidance of drag modulated aeroassisted transfer between elliptical orbits

This paper presents the complete analysis of the problem of minimum-fuel aeroassisted transfer between coplanar elliptical orbits in the case where the orientation of the final orbit is free for selection in the optimization process. The comparison between the optimal pure propulsive transfer and the idealized aeroassisted transfer, by several passages through the atmosphere, is made. In the case where aeroassisted transfer provides fuel saving, a practical scheme for its realization by one passage is proposed. The maneuver consists of three phases: a deorbit phase for nonzero entry angle, followed by an atmospheric fly-through with variable drag control and completed by a postatmospheric phase. An explicit guidance formula for drag control is derived and it is shown that the required exit speed for ascent to the final orbit can be obtained with a very high degree of accuracy.

Vinh, N. X.↗

Iterative explicit guidance for low thrust spacecraft.

A retargeting procedure is developed for use as a nonlinear low thrust guidance scheme. The selection of a control program composed of a sequence of inertially fixed thrust-acceleration vectors permits all trajectory computations to be made with closed form expressions, and allows the controls to be represented by constant parameters, thrust-acceleration vectors and thrusting times. By requiring each trajectory to be time optimal, the guidance problem is transformed into a parameter optimization problem which is solved by the conjugate gradient method. The scheme is applied to a low thrust capture mission, and the results of computer simulations are presented.

Jacobson, R. A.↗

Reentry guidance for Space Shuttle

An explicit guidance scheme is outlined which provides the appropriate energy management in order for the shuttle orbiter to reach any location within the required footprint. Considering the orbiter as entering the earth's atmosphere, expressions for the downrange, crossrange, and the time of the termination of the entry phase as functions of the control variables are developed. Performing an order-of-magnitude analysis of the terms in these expressions, only dominant terms are retained. Analytical expressions for the elements of the sensitivity matrix which represents the partial derivatives of the desired range with respect to control variables are formulated. Using the Gauss-Jordan inversion technique, the required change in guidance commands as a function of the deviations in the downrange and crossrange are explicitly computed.

Causey, W.↗