On the controllability of the roll rate of the ALFLEX reentry vehicle

  • Eva Kaslik
  • Agneta M. Balint
  • Silviu Birauas
  • Stefan Balint

Abstract

The objective is to show, in a simplified mathematical model of the ALFLEX reentry vehicle, that it is possible to recover with a single maneuver a zero roll rate equilibrium state from a high roll rate state into which the vehicle has accidentally fallen during its final approach and landing phase. For this purpose, bifurcation analysis is undertaken along different equilibrium contours and it is shown that some unstable equilibrium states are very sensitive to the perturbations and to the change of the control surface angles. For the asymptotically stable zero roll rate equilibrium states the domains of attraction are estimated. Using the domain of attraction of a particular asymptotically stable zero roll rate equilibrium state, it is shown that "any" high roll rate state can be transferred to this equilibrium state by a single maneuver.
Published
2004-11-01
Section
Articles