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US 2010/0250031 A1Published application
Propulsive guidance for atmospheric skip entry trajectories
AssigneeThe Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
InventorsStephen C. Paschall, II, Garrett O. Teahan
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Abstract
The invention set forth herein describes propulsive guidance methods and apparatus for controlling and shaping an atmospheric skip reentry trajectory for a space vehicle. Embodiments of the invention may utilize a powered explicit guidance algorithm to provide a closed-loop control method for controlling a space vehicle during a skip reentry maneuver.
Claims19
A method of providing propulsive guidance for atmospheric skip reentry of a space vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- a) calculating a skip reentry flight trajectory for a space vehicle;
- b) determining at least one predicted parameter associated with that trajectory;
- c) receiving at least one measured parameter from at least one navigation system instrument;
- d) comparing the at least one predicted parameter with the at least one measured parameter;
- e) determining whether a difference between the at least one predicted parameter and the at least one measured parameter exceeds a threshold value;
- and
- f) sending a control signal to a propulsion system of the vehicle if the difference between the at least one predicted parameter and the at least one measured parameter exceeds the threshold value.
4 more elements
A propulsive guidance system for atmospheric skip reentry of a space vehicle, comprising:
- a means of receiving at least one measured parameter from at least one instrument;
- a control utilizing a powered explicit guidance algorithm adapted to:
- a) calculate at least one predicted parameter associated with a skip reentry flight trajectory for a space vehicle;
- b) compare at least one predicted parameter with at least one measured parameter received from at least one navigation system instrument;
- and
- c) calculate at least one control signal for a vehicle propulsion system to at least partially compensate for a difference between at least one predicted parameter and at least one measured parameter;
- and
- a means for transmitting at least one control signal to the vehicle propulsion system.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.