Active Control Technology Experience With the Space Shuttle in the Landing Regime
Powers, Bruce G. (1984) Active Control Technology Experience With the Space Shuttle in the Landing Regime. Technical Report NASA TM-85910, Research Engineering, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.
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Abstract
The shuttle program took on the challege of providing a manual landing capability for an operational vehicle returning from orbit. Some complex challeges were encountered in developing the longitudinal flying qualities required to land the orbiter manually in an operational environment. Approach and landing test flights indicated a tendency for pilot-induced oscillation near landing. Changes in the operational procedures reduced the difficulty of the landing task, and an adaptive stick filter was incorporated to reduce the severity of any pilot-induced oscillatory motions. Fixed-base, moving-base, and in-flight simulations were used for the evaluations, and in general, flight simulation has been the only reliable means of assessing the low-speed longitudinal flying qualities problems. Overall, the orbiter control system and operational procedures have produced a good capability for routinely performing precise landings in a large, unpowered vehicle with a low lift-to-drag ratio.
| EPrint Type: | NASA Technical Memorandum |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Space shuttle, Control systems, Flying qualities |
| Subjects: | (01 - 09) Aeronautics: (08) Aircraft Stability And Control Aircraft/Project: Space Shuttle Orbiter |
| ID Code: | 610 |
| Deposited On: | 01 Febuary 2006 |
| Additional Information: | 12 pages. This paper was prepared for presentation at the AGARD Flight Mechanics Panel Symposium on Active Control Systems, Toronto, Canada, Oct. 15 to 18, 1984. |
