Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Attitude control
Patent
1992-10-05
1994-06-07
Barefoot, Galen L.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Attitude control
244 322, 244138R, 244160, B64G 126
Patent
active
053182561
ABSTRACT:
A rocket deceleration system for a spacecraft, comprises a first set of active canted rockets for attenuating a horizontal velocity of the spacecraft and a portion of the vertical velocity thereof. A second set of active canted rockets attenuate the remainder of the vertical velocity. A third set of available canted rockets attenuate a wide range of horizontal velocities, regardless of the vehicle roll position about its vertical axis. The first set, second set and third set of rockets form a ring and combine to form a total number of rockets being divisible by the numeral 6. Each rocket is 180.degree. from an opposing rocket on the other side of the ring. A programmable controller identifies rockets to be fired to attenuate horizontal and vertical spacecraft velocities. The controller operates by i) receiving external input data regarding horizontal and vertical spacecraft velocities and vehicle roll position; ii) comparing the input data to tabulated information correlating rocket position to horizontal spacecraft velocity and vehicle roll position; and, iii) issuing a fire command to the appropriate active rockets of the first set and second set at a predetermined height above the ground. The appropriate active rockets is a constant number if there are no flight anomalies. An appropriate command is issued for adding or removing at least one rocket to the constant number of active rockets without inducing undesired imbalances in thrust forces on the spacecraft.
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Barefoot Galen L.
Ginsberg Lawrence N.
Rockwell International Corporation
Silberberg Charles T.
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