Title: Design and analysis of entry, powered descent trajectory envelopes and manifold of landing points

Authors: Melissa M. Onishi; Dilmurat M. Azimov

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2540 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2540 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA

Abstract: This paper presents the design, analysis and construction of trajectory envelopes for viable descent and landing manoeuvres. A family of envelopes is generated by varying a vast range of terminal conditions allowed by the proposed design space based on previous Mars landing trajectories. The following phases are considered in the landing manoeuvre: exoatmospheric thrust phase, atmospheric transit phase and powered descent and landing phase. The paper investigates cases where two or three entry velocity components are defined as non-zero arbitrary constants to analyse the overall profile of the entry trajectory. Specific parameters are designated to satisfy the design space and achieve feasible landing. The continuity conditions at the junction points have been presented and analysed to provide smooth and continuous change of these parameters except for the control variables. The proposed design and construction of trajectory envelopes can be used in the mission design analysis for planetary landing missions. Simulations of the proposed manoeuvre trajectories are presented.

Keywords: entry; descent and landing; trajectory envelopes; powered descent.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPACESE.2020.110363

International Journal of Space Science and Engineering, 2020 Vol.6 No.2, pp.105 - 124

Received: 05 Nov 2019
Accepted: 26 Mar 2020

Published online: 15 Oct 2020 *

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