2016 Volume 64 Issue 3 Pages 182-188
A hypersonic flight experiment using an S-520 sounding rocket as a launch vehicle is planned in order to demonstrate integrated control technologies for vehicle attitude and propulsion. Its primary mission requirement is to achieve experimental conditions for the installed ramjet engines (constant 50kPa dynamic pressure at not less than Mach 4.0) for a sufficient duration. In this paper, a feasibility study of the flight experiment is conducted using a multidisciplinary design optimization technique. The experimental vehicle shape and the flight trajectory are simultaneously optimized so that the duration of the required experimental conditions is maximized. In particular, consideration is given to the trade-off between a longitudinal static margin and trimming capability since it is a major concern for flight control of winged suborbital re-entry vehicles. Gross mass and launch angle of the sounding rocket are varied to obtain vehicle shapes and associated trajectories that successfully satisfy the mission requirement.
