Engineering topics

Breckheimer, Peter J.

Publications and source records attributed to Breckheimer, Peter J..

5 records

NASA NTRS1989

Calculating Trajectories And Orbits

Double-Precision Trajectory Analysis Program, DPTRAJ, and Orbit Determination Program, ODP, developed and improved over years to provide highly reliable and accurate navigation capability for deep-space missions like Voyager. Each collection of programs working together to provide desired computational results. DPTRAJ, ODP, and supporting utility programs capable of handling massive amounts of data and performing various numerical calculations required for solving navigation problems associated with planetary fly-by and lander missions. Used extensively in support of NASA's Voyager project. DPTRAJ-ODP available in two machine versions. UNIVAC version, NPO-15586, written in FORTRAN V, SFTRAN, and ASSEMBLER. VAX/VMS version, NPO-17201, written in FORTRAN V, SFTRAN, PL/1 and ASSEMBLER.

Alderson, Daniel J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The ATOMFT integrator - Using Taylor series to solve ordinary differential equations

This paper discusses the application of ATOMFT, an integration package based on Taylor series solution with a sophisticated user interface. ATOMFT has the capabilities to allow the implementation of user defined functions and the solution of stiff and algebraic equations. Detailed examples, including the solutions to several astrodynamics problems, are presented. Comparisons with its predecessor ATOMCC and other modern integrators indicate that ATOMFT is a fast, accurate, and easy method to use to solve many differential equation problems.

Berryman, Kenneth W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Survey of optimization techniques for nonlinear spacecraft trajectory searches

Mathematical analysis of the optimal search of a nonlinear spacecraft trajectory to arrive at a set of desired targets is presented. A high precision integrated trajectory program and several optimization software libraries are used to search for a converged nonlinear spacecraft trajectory. Several examples for the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter and the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX) are presented that illustrate a variety of the optimization methods used in nonlinear spacecraft trajectory searches.

Wang, Tseng-Chan↗

NASA NTRS1988

Applications of square-root information filtering and smoothing in spacecraft orbit determination

The JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Orbit Determination Software System is a set of computer programs developed for the primary purpose of determining the flight path of deep-space mission spacecraft in NASA's Planetary Program and highly elliptical orbiting spacecraft in Earth orbit. The filtering processes available within the JPL Orbit Determination Software are discussed, and several examples are presented. In particular, solutions obtained by the Square Root Information Filter (SRIF) using Bierman's Estimation Subroutine Library (ESL) are discussed and compared with the solutions obtained by the singular value decomposition (SVD) technique. It is concluded that the SRIF filtering and smoothing algorithms are efficient and numerically stable for well-conditioned systems. The use of Bierman's ESL simplifies the task of maintaining the orbit determination software by providing efficient, tested filtering tools. For solving a large well-conditioned system (rank higher than 120), SRIF is approximately four times faster than SVD; however, for solving an ill-conditioned system, SVD is recommended.

Wang, Tseng-Chan↗

NASA NTRS1987

Application of optimization techniques to spacecaft fuel usage minimization in deep space navigation

Mathematical analysis of the minimization of spacecraft fuel usage for both impulsive and finite motor burns is presented. A high precision integrated trajectory search program (SEPV) and several optimization software libraries are used to solve minimum fuel usage problems. The SEPV program has the capacity to vary either the initial spacecraft state or the finite burn parameters to acquire a specified set of target values. Several test examples for the Voyager 2 Uranus Encounter and the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter are presented to show that spacecraft fuel consumption can be minimized in targeting maneuver strategies. The fuel savings achieved by the optimum solution can be significant.

Wang, Tseng-Chan↗