Control Systems and Strategies onboard of VLM-1

Paper number

IAC-13,D1,4,7,x20150

Author

Mr. Josef Ettl, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. WALDEMAR LEITE FILHO, CTA-IAE, Brazil

Coauthor

Dr. Domingos Carrijo, Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE), Brazil

Coauthor

Dr. Hilton Pietrobom, DCTA/IAE, Brazil

Coauthor

Dr. Fausto Ramos, DCTA-IAE, Brazil

Coauthor

Mr. Adolfo Silva, DCTA/IAE, Brazil

Coauthor

Mr. Henrique Daitx, DCTA/IAE, Brazil

Year

2013

Abstract

The VLM-1 rocket will be launched for the first time from the launch site in Alcântara (North east of Brazil, Maranhão State) 2016. The VLM-1 can be used for 2 different applications. The first one is to carry the SHEFEX III re-entry flight vehicle and impose it to a final speed of about 26 Mach, the second application is to lift microsatellites into equatorial low earth orbits.
The VLM-1 is a three stage rocket system, consisting of 2 S-50 and one S44 motors. The first 2 stages have a flexible nozzle while the upper stage has to be controlled by a cold gas system. To follow the nominal trajectory and to stabilize the flight behavior of the rocket system several control loops have to be installed.
The aim of this paper is to describe a total overview about the control complex, their targets, strategies and principle functionalities. Furthermore, the redundant guidance and navigation system used on board is described, including its accuracy and reliability. Additionally, algorithms are introduced to minimize drifts of the navigation data online.  Simulation results are shown in order to confirm that the requirements will be reached.

Abstract document

IAC-13,D1,4,7,x20150.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)