Modeling an Off-Nominal Launch Vehicle Trajectory for Range Safety Link Analysis

J.C. Chen, C.C. Wang, D. Taggart, E. Ditata

Abstract:	The dynamic link analysis for the Telemetry and Command subsystems is frequently required to ensure adequate link closure for range safety. This analysis takes into consideration vehicle antenna patterns, locations of ground stations, and dynamics of launch vehicles (pitch-roll-yaw and position) of a nominal launch trajectory. However, for the purpose of range safety, the link analysis of an off-nominal trajectory is even more critical than that for the nominal one because that is when the Command Destruct signal will be most likely sent (if the vehicle is heading to a populated area). An off-nominal trajectory may be a simple heading change from the planned route, or it may consist of a series of vehicle tumbles. In this paper, a three-step algorithm is developed to model an off-nominal trajectory. Based on the algorithm, a tool is developed to generate off-nominal trajectories, which are in turn used for dynamic link analysis. This tool provides a powerful capability for system analysts to decide the destruct lines and perform engineering trade studies over a wide range of trajectories.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2003 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 22 - 24, 2003 Disneyland Paradise Pier Hotel Anaheim, CA
Pages:	225 - 232
Cite this article:	Chen, J.C., Wang, C.C., Taggart, D., Ditata, E., "Modeling an Off-Nominal Launch Vehicle Trajectory for Range Safety Link Analysis," Proceedings of the 2003 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Anaheim, CA, January 2003, pp. 225-232.
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