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Preliminary Assessment of a Neptune Aerocapture Mission Using an Integrated Design ToolAerocapture is an efficient orbit insertion technique that uses the planet's atmosphere to decelerate an arriving spacecraft. With current technology and for vehicles of reasonable mass, it is the only technique that might deliver the high delta-V's required for insertion to orbits around the outer planets. Preliminary design studies for outer planet orbital missions must evaluate aerocapture strategies, and must therefore consider the coupling between vehicle geometry, aerodynamics, aerocapture trajectory, heating and thermal protection system mass. The analyses have been linked into an integrated design environment, with the critical parameters grouped in a global database. The designer is free to use single point evaluations, parametric variation, and numerical optimization to evaluate a range of vehicle shapes and insertion trajectories. The application of this design tool to a preliminary study for Neptune aerocapture has implications for the use of such computational environments for any atmospheric entry mission.
Document ID
20020051384
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Gage, Peter J.
(Thermoscience Inst. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Wercinski, Paul F.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: 7th Symposium on Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization
Location: Saint Louis, MO
Country: United States
Start Date: September 2, 1998
End Date: September 4, 1998
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 242-33-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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