ASSESSMENT OF THE GUIDANCE OF THE LUNIK SPACECRAFT

K. W. Kiser and A. H. Gallas

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	Previous authors have reported analyses of the guidance accuracy of the Sputniks (Ref. I), and attempts have been made to reconstruct Lunik trajetories through computer simulations (Ref.2). This paper will attempt an assessment of the Lunik guidance systems. Since the geocentric coordinates of the launch base are not exactly known and the orbital parameter data is scanty, estimated lunar trajectories are necessary in order to obtain insight into the nature of the ballistic sensitivities associated with the Russian shots. By speculation as to the desired end points of these trajectories and some knowledge of the actual end points, an error analysis is accomplished. There is no evidence that the Russians performed midcourse corrections to the Lunik trajectories and therefore all of the navigation and guidance was completed during the prelaunch (launch window analyses) and powered portions of the flight. The errors are therefore assessed in terms of velocity errors at burnout of the booster.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 9, Number 4
Pages:	334 - 339
Cite this article:	Kiser, K. W., Gallas, A. H., "ASSESSMENT OF THE GUIDANCE OF THE LUNIK SPACECRAFT", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 9, No. 4, Winter 1962-1963, pp. 334-339.
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