An overview of some of the activities in hypersonic airbreathing aerodynamics and propulsion airframe integration is presented for the Space Vehicle Technology Institute. The Institute is a multi-university joint NASA-DoD program that was created as a center for research and education in future launch vehicle technologies. Perhaps more than any other type of flight vehicle, next generation spac...

Abstract In the frame of RETALT (RETro propulsion Assisted Landing Technologies) project, aerodynamics reusable launch vehicles reentering atmosphere and descending landing with aid retro are studied. particular, series wind tunnel tests performed to assess aerodynamic properties such a vehicle in various flight phases from hypersonic supersonic re-entry down subsonic conditions at touch down. ...

1 0-7803-6599-2/01/$10.00 © 2001 IEEE 2 Updated October 21, 2000 Abstract—An inverting control system adaptive to failures was recently flight demonstrated on the X-36 unmanned tailless fighter technology demonstrator. This technology has since been applied in simulation to study the potential to improve the performance and reliability of fully reusable launch vehicles. A new technique known as...

A method for onboard generation of entry trajectory for variable targets is discussed. Conventional trajectory planning algorithms can only be used for the fixed terminal conditions without considering the variable targets. In case the vehicle needs to alert the entry trajectory due to damage or effectors failure, the entry guidance system must real-time design a feasible entry trajectory accor...

Transatmospheric vehicles (TAVs), with aerodynamic properties similar to conventional aircraft, have the promise of flying into space and delivering payloads into low earth orbit (LEO). A key distinguishing feature between TAVs and aircraft is propulsion. Jet engines or pure air-breathing propulsion systems cannot provide the thrust levels needed to ascend into space. Traditional rockets overco...