| This thesis addresses the problem of real time guidance and optimal control of Aeroassisted Orbit Transfer Vehicles (AOTV's). An outline of the research is as follows. The application of Singular Perturbation Theory (SPT) to various types of aircraft problems has produced results that are very useful in designing on-board optimal controllers. Given this fact, the optimal control problem of AOTV's with the capability of large orbit plane change has been addressed using SPT as an underlying method of analysis. Trajectories have been optimized with the view point of minimum energy expenditure. Research was also focused on the derivation of analytic optimal control solutions which can be implemented on-board, and in real time. This research is composed of two major problems areas: optimal reentry, and synergetic plane change with aeroglide. Additionally, synergetic plane change with constrained aeroglide is discussed. |
