Trajectory assessment and optimisation in the context of small launcher design

Abstract

The paper presents a mathematical model that can be used to quickly define a nominal trajectory for the studied small launcher configuration. The tool developed based on the proposed mathematical model can be used separately for trajectory assessments or it can be integrated in a multidisciplinary optimisation algorithm for a preliminary small launcher design, together with the trajectory optimisation for a maximum orbital performance.

Keywords

• mathematical model
• trajectory assessment
• small launcher
• multidisciplinary optimisation
• orbital performance