Mimmizing the maximum heating of a re-entering space shuttle

An optimal control problem with multiple control constraints

authored by

H. Kreim, B. Kugelmann, H. J. Pesch, M. H. Breitner

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical investigation of an optimal re-entry manoeuvre under several control and control-state constraints. The essential aim of the optimization is the minimization of the maximal skin temperature of an orbiter. It is demonstrated that the interaction of different solution techniques is indispensable in order to successfully treat such a highly constrained problem. The reduction of the skin temperature is significant. Moreover, the maximum heat flux and the integrated heat flux are also reduced considerably by the optimization.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Computer Science for Business Administration

External Organisation(s)

Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Clausthal University of Technology

Type

Article

Journal

Optimal Control Applications and Methods

Volume

17

Pages

45-69

No. of pages

25

ISSN

0143-2087

Publication date

1996

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Control and Systems Engineering, Software, Control and Optimization, Applied Mathematics

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1514(199601/03)17:1<45::AID-OCA564>3.0.CO;2-X (Access: Unknown)