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Further development and flight test of an autonomous precision landing system using a parafoilNASA Dryden Flight Research Center and NASA Johnson Space Center are jointly conducting a phased program to determine the feasibility of the autonomous recovery of a spacecraft using a ram-air parafoil system for the final stages of entry from space to a precision landing. The feasibility is being studied using a flight model of a spacecraft in the generic shape of a flattened biconic that weighs approximately 120 lb and is flown under a commercially available ram-air parafoil. Key components of the vehicle include the global positioning system (GPS) guidance for navigation, a flight control computer, an electronic compass, a yaw rate gyro, and an onboard data recorder. A flight test program is being used to develop and refine the vehicle. The primary flight goal is to demonstrate autonomous flight from an altitude of 3,000 m (10,000 ft) with a lateral offset of 1.6 km (1.0 mi) to a precision soft landing. This paper summarizes the progress to date. Much of the navigation system has been tested, including a heading tracker that was developed using parameter estimation techniques and a complementary filter. The autoland portion of the autopilot is still in development. The feasibility of conducting the flare maneuver without servoactuators was investigated as a means of significantly reducing the servoactuator rate and load requirements.
Document ID
19940029489
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Murray, James E. (NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Facility Edwards, CA, United States)
Sim, Alex G. (NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Facility Edwards, CA, United States)
Neufeld, David C. (NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Facility Edwards, CA, United States)
Rennich, Patrick K. (NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Facility Edwards, CA, United States)
Norris, Stephen R. (NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Facility Edwards, CA, United States)
Hughes, Wesley S. (NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Facility Edwards, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1994
Subject Category
Aerodynamics
Report/Patent Number
H-1987
NASA-TM-4599
NAS 1.15:4599
AIAA PAPER 94-2141
Meeting Information
Meeting: Biennial Flight Test Conference
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: June 20, 1994
End Date: June 23, 1994
Accession Number
94N33995
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 505-68-50
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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