Subsonic cruise mode - An intact abort concept
Subsonic cruise mode for intact abort during ascent phase of space shuttle vehicles
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Subsonic cruise mode for intact abort during ascent phase of space shuttle vehicles
Abort requirements for recoverable earth orbital shuttle system
Return to earth abort capability for Apollo missions for various mission phases
Manned spacecraft abort guidance and control problems, discussing various modes and emergency conditions
Aerodynamic forces and moments on orbiter and booster during space shuttle abort separation
Space shuttle guidance, evaluating performance of strapdown and gimballed systems by nominal and abort trajectories
The transonic phase of the 0.0088105-scale MSC orbiter booster separation test was conducted in the LTV 4-foot high speed wind tunnel, at Mach numbers of 0.6,0.9, 1.1, and 1.38. The purpose of this test was to define the effects of the orbiter/ booster proximity interference on the aerodynamic characteristics of the launch configuration during separation or abort maneuvers. Each model had both straight and delta wings available for variation of launch vehicle configuration concepts.
Flow charts, symbol dictionaries, and computer program listings for guidance and control launch and abort simulation for spacecraft are presented.
A wind tunnel test conducted in a 14-inch trisonic wind tunnel to determine the force and moment characteristics of the ATP Orbiter and modified ATP External Tank/SRB combination during abort staging conditions is discussed. Six component aerodynamic force and moment data were recorded for the orbiter and ET/SRB combination. Pitch polars were obtained for an angle of attack range from minus 10 to plus 10 degrees and orbiter incidence angles (orbiter relative to the ET/SRB combination) of 0 and 2 degrees. A limited amount of yaw data were obtained at 0 degree angle of attack and beta range from minus 10 to plus 10 degrees. In addition, orbiter pitch control effectiveness was determined at several grid points. These force and moment data were obtained for Mach numbers of 0.9, 1.2 and 2.0.
An engineering analysis and computer code (AERSEP) for predicting Space Shuttle Orbiter - HO Tank longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics during abort separation has been developed. Computed results are applicable at Mach numbers above 2 for angle-of-attack between plus or minus 10 degrees. No practical restrictions on orbiter-tank relative positioning are indicated for tank-under-orbiter configurations. Input data requirements and computer running times are minimal facilitating program use for parametric studies, test planning, and trajectory analysis. In a majority of cases AERSEP Orbiter-Tank interference predictions are as accurate as state-of-the-art estimates for interference-free or isolated-vehicle configurations. AERSEP isolated-orbiter predictions also show excellent correlation with data.
An investigation has been made of abort procedures for space shuttle-type vehicles using a point mass trajectory optimization program known as POST. This study determined the minimum time gap between immediate and once-around safe return to the launch site from a baseline due-East launch trajectory for an alternate space shuttle concept which experiences an instantaneous loss of 25 percent of the total main engine thrust.
Experimental aerodynamic investigations were conducted on a 6-OTS 0.015-scale model. The Ames dual sting support separation rig was used to obtain grid-type data for tank-booster abort from orbiter (SSV). Freestream data were obtained for the orbiter to provide a baseline for evaluation of proximity effects. Data were obtained at Mach numbers from 0.32 to 1.1, and Reynolds number per foot varying from 2.1 million to 3.9 million. Data are not presented. Because of balance failure, a very substantial portion of the test was run with a dummy balance in the tank boosters configuration.
The effects of several parameters on the relative motions of a space shuttle orbiter design and its external tank were determined during staging for the return-to-launch-site abort mode. The parameters included angle of attack, dynamic pressure, flight-path angle, pitch rate, elevon effectiveness and the use of thrust applied to the tank. The relative positions of each component were determined by a separation trajectory computer program which incorporated data obtained in wind-tunnel tests with the orbiter and tank in proximity. These tests were conducted at Mach 10.3 in a continuous-flow hypersonic tunnel. All separation cases were initiated at a constant Mach number of 10 with an assumed sideslip angle of 0 deg.
The earliest abort once around (AOA) time for the first orbital flight test (OFT-1) mission is determined. The latest estimates of vehicle weights and propulsion for OFT-1 are used. Trade analyses to indicate variations in AOA time for shuttle subsystem changes (such as orbital maneuvering system (OMS) or reaction control system (RCS) propellant loadings) are included. In addition, the effects of first stage attitude steering as a function of relative velocity for a nominal profile are presented. Data are presented to indicate the effect of designing first stage steering for earliest AOA time and then having engine out at times after the design point.
Abort-Once-Around (AOA) entry dispersion corridors were determined for Shuttle Mission 3A. These corridors are presented as plots of entry interface flight path angle versus range to target. The methods used to determine the corridors are discussed. Major dispersion sources are discussed and results presented. While specific trajectory inputs and constraints are subject to change, the dispersion corridors show the trends under consideration. The corridors presented show the delta V advantage of the two-burn over the one-burn AOA. The atmospheric dispersion study illustrates the need to target for the seasonal atmosphere. The 40 deg/30 deg angle of attack (alpha) (TPS design) profile did not provide adequate crossrange capability with worst case aerodynamic dispersions. This problem was alleviated with the change to a 38 deg/28 deg alpha profile. The backface temperatures calculated were generally higher than the present limits.
A quantitative assessment is made of the long-term risk of earth reencounter and reentry associated with aborted disposal of hazardous material in the space environment. Numerical results are presented for 10 candidate disposal options covering a broad spectrum of disposal destinations and deployment propulsion systems. Based on representative models of system failure, the probability that a single payload will return and collide with earth within a period of 250,000 years is found to lie in the range .0002-.006. Proportionately smaller risk attaches to shorter time intervals. Risk-critical factors related to trajectory geometry and system reliability are identified as possible mechanisms of hazard reduction.
Closed-form solutions are presented for a two-burn orbit insertion, AOA, and ATO maneuver targets, and for time of ignition of a one-burn deorbit. Based on the assumption that the orbits involved deviate only to the first order about a reference circular orbit, these solutions are nearly fuel-minimum. They are expressed in terms of linear terminal velocity constraint shuttle guidance targets and, thus, are readily applicable to both ground and onboard software use. In addition to potential application to real-time targeting, the equations may be used as a mission design aid in preliminary definition of target loads and definition of abort mode boundaries.
The Future Space Transportation System (FSTS) study was conducted by the NASA Langley Research Center to identify the technology requirements for concepts that will replace the Space Shuttle in the post 2000 time frame. The configuration chosen for the study is a two-stage, fully reusable, vertical liftoff, and horizontal landing system with a 150,000 lb. payload capability. The two stages are burned in parallel with the booster providing all the propellant until staging, which results in a large lateral c.g. movement. Nominally, the booster stages at Mach 3 and glides back to the launch site. Because of the large lateral c.g. travel, a scheme to trim the vehicle until staging occurred was developed that used both gimballing and throttling of the engines. Preliminary booster aerodynamics were determined, and the booster glideback trajectory was analyzed with and without winds. Finally, a preliminary abort analysis was conducted for each stage.