Dynamics of tether-assisted reentry vehicle systems
Abstract
The dynamics of tether-assisted reentry of a capsule is considered in this paper. A major advantage in tethered-assisted reentry is the ability to replace a retro-rocket by a tether. In this reentry procedure, a capsule is deployed down to a design altitude near the local vertical, and at an appropriate time the capsule is disconnected from the tether and enters into a reentry trajectory. In addition to static release, swing release is also considered in this paper. Three deployment schemes appropriate for swing release are considered. A two-stage accelerated-exponential/decelerated-exponential deployment appears to be the best of the three. In comparison with static release, for the same duration of return, this swing release can lead to about 22 percent reduction in tether length at the cost of an increase in tension in the tether by only 8 to 12 percent, and thus, it could decrease the tether mass launched into space. The paper analyzes the detailed dynamics of the tethered system before release as well as the reentry dynamics of the capsule after release along with the heat generated during reentry.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report A
- Pub Date:
- 1993
- Bibcode:
- 1993STIA...9585816Z
- Keywords:
-
- Reentry Effects;
- Reentry Physics;
- Reentry Trajectories;
- Tethered Satellites;
- Two Body Problem;
- Equations Of Motion;
- Velocity Distribution;
- Astrodynamics