Optimal Aeroassisted Maneuvers for Orbital Transfer

Orbital plane changes require a considerable amount of propellant to be completed if the traditional fully propulsive maneuver is used. The cost associated with this type of maneuvers is one of its major drawbacks, and performing an inclination change in orbit would require a large part of the total mass budget of the mission. Moreover,...

Mission Planner for Heating-Optimal Re-Entry Trajectories with Extended Range Capability

Atmospheric entry is a process defined by extremes, from the great velocity at the point of entry to the high deceleration loads and aerodynamic heating in the lower layers of the atmosphere. In addition to the vehicle maintaining structural integrity, an equally important aspect of the re-entry mission is safety. This safety can only be...