Shape and trajectory optimisation of hypersonic waveriders: For long range, stable and controllable re-entry flight

Waveriders are high-lifting hypersonic configurations with great potential to become a future reusable launch vehicle concept. However, in a re-entry flight scenario, standard waverider designs face challenges such as stability, controllability, heat load management, and performance at off-design conditions. In this research, a baseline...

Assessment and Optimisation of Target Acquisition using SAR Seekers on Manoeuvrable Re-Entry Vehicles

In this thesis, the achievable performance and limitations of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) seeker on an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) for a set of parameters has been investigated. This was achieved by modelling the dynamics of an ASBM and the constraints related to the acquisition requirements of a maritime surface target in the ...

Re-entry vehicle aerodynamic database reconstruction from the analysis of test dynamics

During the design and analysis of a mission characterised by re-entry flight, consistent effort and resources are invested in the definition of the aerodynamic database of the re-entry vehicle. An aerodynamic database collects a set of dimensionless coefficients that describe the interaction of the vehicle's geometry and airflow, and an accurate...

Study on optimal Trajectories and Energy Management Capabilities of a Winged Re-Entry Vehicle during the Terminal Area

The unpowered entry of a winged re-entry vehicle, such as the HORUS-2B, consists of a hypersonic atmospheric re-entry phase, a Terminal Area Energy Management (TAEM) phase and a approach and landing phase. The TAEM is the subject of this thesis study. During the TAEM, the vehicle is brought to the correct interface position with the landing...