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Air Force Institute of Technology

2004

Astronautics

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Optimal Constellation Design For Orbital Munitions Delivery System, Jason Anderson Mar 2004

Optimal Constellation Design For Orbital Munitions Delivery System, Jason Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Rather than delivering conventional munitions through the airspace of uncooperative nations, a constellation of space-stored weapons could potentially target any point on the Earth and arrive within the time it takes to de-orbit and re-enter through the atmosphere. The research involves applying the dynamics of atmospheric re-entry to a Common Aero Vehicle (CAV) and defining a footprint of attainable touchdown points. The footprint is moved forward to create a swath representing all the possible touchdown points in a 90 minute window. A nominal constellation of CAVs is established using a streets of coverage technique, and both analytic studies and numeric …


Investigation Of Atmospheric Reentry For The Space Maneuver Vehicle, Dennis J. Mcnabb Mar 2004

Investigation Of Atmospheric Reentry For The Space Maneuver Vehicle, Dennis J. Mcnabb

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the atmospheric reentry of the Space Maneuver Vehicle from low-earth orbit using an entry guidance concept similar to the Space Shuttle. The Space Maneuver Vehicle was modeled as a point mass with aerodynamic properties as determined using Newtonian impact theory. For the rarefied-flow transition regime bridging formulae are used to capture the effects of both hypersonic continuum flow and free molecular flow. Constraints to the reentry are developed and a reentry corridor is defined in the drag-velocity plane. Bank angle modulation is established as the primary means for controlling drag and range. The guidance concept is applied …