Recovery of sounding rocket payloads by center-of-gravity position control.

A computerized procedure has been developed to predict dynamic pressure at parachute deployment altitude. Inputs to the program are payload geometry, center-of-gravity position, velocity, and altitude at start of reentry. Payload is assumed to be trimmed, and potential and cross-flow drag theory is used to compute trim angle-of-attack and trim drag coefficient as a function of free-stream Mach number. The computations involve only simple geometric quantities and closed-form equations. Payload flight path is assumed to be vertical, and equations of motion of the payload are integrated from start of reentry to chute deployment altitude.