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Jones, D. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Jones, D. W..

Space shuttle booster flyback system synthesis

One particular aspect of configuration development and evaluation for an earth-to-orbit reusable space transportation system is presented. It deals only with the first-stage booster element of the system. It is restricted to consideration of only those aspects of the booster which are associated with its capability to be recovered, the booster flyback system. A computerized synthesis approach for treating this problem is discussed.

Jones, D. W.

An analysis of approach navigation accuracy and guidance requirements for the grand tour mission to the outer planets

The navigation and guidance process for the Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus planetary encounter phases of the 1977 Grand Tour interior mission was simulated. Reference approach navigation accuracies were defined and the relative information content of the various observation types were evaluated. Reference encounter guidance requirements were defined, sensitivities to assumed simulation model parameters were determined and the adequacy of the linear estimation theory was assessed. A linear sequential estimator was used to provide an estimate of the augmented state vector, consisting of the six state variables of position and velocity plus the three components of a planet position bias. The guidance process was simulated using a nonspherical model of the execution errors. Computation algorithms which simulate the navigation and guidance process were derived from theory and implemented into two research-oriented computer programs, written in FORTRAN.

Jones, D. W.