Accession Number:

AD0270925

Title:

A STUDY OF GUIDANCE SENSITIVITY FOR VARIOUS LOW-THRUST TRANSFERS FROM EARTH TO MARS

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON D C

Personal Author(s):

• FRIEDLANDER,ALAN L.

Report Date:

1962-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

1.0

Abstract:

AN ANALYSIS OF GUIDANCE SENSITIVITY BASED ON METHODS OF LINEAR PERTURBATION THEORY AND ADJOINT FUNCTIONS IS PRESENTED. The fundamental guidance equation is derived and its interpretations are discussed. The characteristics of the sensitivity coefficients and functions for a typical low-thrust trajectory are described. The effects of initial velocity errors on the final position and velocity are presented for extensive range of initial thrust-weight ratio, specific impulse, and transfer time.

Descriptors:

• *GUIDANCE
• *SPACE FLIGHT
• *SPACE NAVIGATION
• MARS(PLANET)
• MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
• ORBITS
• PERTURBATION THEORY
• SENSITIVITY
• VECTOR ANALYSIS

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE