Flight trajectory analysis on advanced morphing space transportation system for wider cross range and down range with trimmed flight

Shigeru Aso, Yasuhiro Tani, Kenta Shiomi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The flight regimes of RLV must cover from hypersonic regime to subsonic regime. Therefore, conventional space transportation systems, whose geometry is designed mainly for re-entry phase, could not always realize best aerodynamic performance in all flight conditions. In order to overcome those problems, a new concept of space transportation system named Morphing Space Transportation System, whose configuration changes in order to have better aerodynamic characteristics at each flight regime, has been proposed by the present authors. For strategy of development of promising configuration of Morphing Space Transportation high lift to drag ratio (L/D) and high lift coefficient (CL) are selected as estimation parameters for high aerodynamic performance. Also the candidates of morphing configuration should satisfy the proposition that all candidate configurations should be realized by deforming baseline configuration. Higher L/D results in wide cross range and long downrange as well as higher levels of manoeuvrability. On the other hand, higher CL enables the vehicle to land at lower landing speed, and thus led to increase in safety and choices of runway. Those configurations of morphing RLV have been investigated from in hypersonic flight regime to in subsonic flight regime. Finally the recommended series of morphing configuration of RLV have been proposed. In order to investigate the capability of our idea of Morphing Space Transportation experimental study has been conducted from Mach number of 0.3 through 3.0. The various configuration of Morphing Space Transportation have been tested and optimum configurations with higher L/D (lift to drag ratio) with trimmed condition has been discovered for every flight regime. Also flight trajectory analysis has been conducted by simulating flight trajectory from re-entry to landing starting from an altitude of 100km. In the present analysis L/D of each morphing configuration with trimmed flight is selected. The results suggest that morphing space transportation system can extend its down range more than 2400 km and cross range more than 2000 km. The results means that proposed morphing space transportation system has excellent access capability to many airports for re-entry. Also proposed morphing space transportation system could select one of possible paths during re-entry because the distance between neighbouring paths is limited from about 2000 km to 3000 km for low earth orbit with low inclination.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication68th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2017
Subtitle of host publicationUnlocking Imagination, Fostering Innovation and Strengthening Security
PublisherInternational Astronautical Federation, IAF
Pages1489-1495
Number of pages7
ISBN (Print)9781510855373
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Event68th International Astronautical Congress: Unlocking Imagination, Fostering Innovation and Strengthening Security, IAC 2017 - Adelaide, Australia
Duration: Sept 25 2017Sept 29 2017

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Volume3
ISSN (Print)0074-1795

Other

Other68th International Astronautical Congress: Unlocking Imagination, Fostering Innovation and Strengthening Security, IAC 2017
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityAdelaide
Period9/25/179/29/17

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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