Navigation System for Reusable Launch Vehicle

Kurzfassung

PHOENIX is a downscaled experimental vehicle to demonstrate automatic landing capabilities of future Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs). PHOENIX has flown in May 2004 at NEAT (North European Aerospace Test range) in Vidsel, Sweden. As the shape of the vehicle has been designed for re-entry, the dynamics are very high and almost unstable. This requires a fast and precise GNC system. This paper describes the navigation system and the navigation filter of PHOENIX. The system is introduced and the high requirements are shown. The sensor configuration to fulfill the requirements is presented. Special focus is laid on the development and the structure of the navigation filter. The flight results of PHOENIX are shown and the performance of the navigation system is analyzed, which includes sensor failure scenarios.