Synergetic maneuvering of winged spacecraft for orbital plane change

Orbital changes during hypersonic aerocruise

“…It is shown that the aerocruise starting point that maximizes the inclination change or that maximizes the change in the longitude of the ascending node can be determined analyt-ically. The results verify previous claims [12,13] that the aerodynamic turn should be centered at the nodal crossing to maximize the inclination change. However, we find that centering the aerodynamic turn at an apex does not always give the maximum change in the longitude of the ascending node.…”

“…The implication is that these maximadetermine where to conduct the aerodynamic turn to achieve the desired plane change. Approximate analytical results [13] and numerical results [12,13], the latter obtained with the Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories (POST) [14], support the notion that the greatest inclination change is achieved by centering the aerodynamic turn a t the equator. Furthermore, flying at a high angle of attack, in order to maximize the lift coefficient, produces a quicker turn and thus allows more of the turn to occur near the equator, increasing the inclination change.…”

“…Under a realistic heating rate constraint, the superiority of aerocruise over both the aeroglide and the pure-propulsive modes for changing the plane of a low orbit (148 km -555 km altitude) has been demonstrated by Cuadra and Arthur [6], Clauss and Yeatmann [7], and Paine [8] in the mid 1960's. Renewed interest in synergetic plane changes has led, more recently, to further study of the aerocruise mode [12,13]. These recent studies have stressed the fact that an orbital plane is defined by not only its inclination (with respect to the equatorial plane), i, but also by the longitude of the ascending node, h2; and that an aerodynamic turn must be properly located in order to achieve the desired plane change.…”

“…These recent studies have stressed the fact that an orbital plane is defined by not only its inclination (with respect to the equatorial plane), i, but also by the longitude of the ascending node, h2; and that an aerodynamic turn must be properly located in order to achieve the desired plane change. In [12] and [13], expressions for dildt and dRldt are given; and it is shown that dildt is maximized at either equatorial (nodal) crossing and that dR/dt is maximized a t the apexes of the orbit. The implication is that these maximadetermine where to conduct the aerodynamic turn to achieve the desired plane change.…”

Optimal plane change during constant altitude hypersonic flight

“…Presented as Paper 88-4341 at the AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference, Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 15-17, 1988; received Jan. 4,1990; revision received Aug. 9,1990; accepted for publication Aug. 9,1990 In the present paper, an intermediate case is considered, namely, constant altitude, variable speed, and variable angle of attack flight. With this generalization, we are faced with an optimal control problem.…”