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Impact of atmospheric uncertainties and viscous interaction effects on the performance of aeroassisted orbital transfer vehiclesSimulations of aerobraking trajectories of aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicles (AOTV's) returning from geosynchronous orbit were analyzed to examine the effects of high-altitude viscous interactions and off-nominal atmospheres on AOTV return weight, heating, and loads performance. Viscous interaction effects encountered at high altitudes had little detrimental effect on the return weight capabilities for AOTV's representing a range of lift/drag ratios. Most of the AOTV return weight increase over an all-propulsive OTV occurred for a low lift/drag ratio. Smaller increases in return weight were observed for higher lift/drag ratios, at the expense of significantly higher heating and aerodynamic loads. Off-nominal atmospheres based on Shuttle-derived data and multipliers on a U.S. Standard Atmosphere were considered. AOTV's intended for entry under standard atmospheric conditions either deorbited during the pass through the off-nominal atmospheres or missed the target phasing orbit by wide margins. The AOTV's could successfully negotiate these atmospheres when new bank-angle histories were implemented with little loss and sometimes with a gain in return weight.
Document ID
19840036465
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Talay, T. A.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
White, N. H.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Naftel, J. C.
(NASA Langley Research Center Space Systems Div., Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1984
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 84-0408
Accession Number
84A19252
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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