The ascending trajectories performance and control to minimize the heat load for the transatmospheric aero-space planes

The goal of airbreathing transatmospheric vehicle (TAV) ascending trajectory performance and control definition is the minimization of heat loads/unit area near the stagnation point, modeling the vehicle as a point-variable mass with drag polar and variable thrust. Initially, the present effort proceeds analytically to define the aerodynamic and thrust controls required for TAV transfer from one specified state to another, while satisfying such equality constraints as constant dynamic pressure and constant rate-of-climb. Extensive numerical optimization algorithms are then applied. An illustrative numerical example is presented.