Implementação de uma ferramenta computacional para verificação do ajuste do lançador em lançamentos de foguetes não-guiados

Abstract

In this work, a computational tool for unguided rockets launch simulation, named SSEAM (Simulator of Spherical Earth of Asynmetric Mass), that adopts the spherical and non-inertial earth models, is implemented and validated. This tool describes the trajectory of rockets, from the launcher to the impact point, providing several flight parameters, such as position and speed, and allowing inferences from the flight dynamics of the rocket. Results from simulations were compared with those obtained with ROSI software considering the same initial launch conditions. It was possible to notice differences in the results, due to the propulsion and atmospheric models applied in both simulators. Along unguided rocket launch missions it is very important to analyse many mission requisites, such as the flight safety and climatological ones, in order to reach the mission goals. In the last few years, the Alcantara Launch Center has conducted several operations with fin-stabilized suborbital vehicles with no attitude control system. The use of a simulator is very important to recreate environment conditions, since it cannot be done in a laboratory. In addition to the implementation and validation of the simulator, the Guará software methodology was also simulated in conjunction with the SSEAM simulator, to verify if the launcher adjustment, provided by Guará, was properly calculated, since the simplifications that the software adopts to calculate compensated azimuth and elevation angles can degrade the effectiveness of the adjustment. The SSEAM simulator was used in conjunction with Guará to simulate the flight of two unguided rockets. It has been identified that due to the simplifications that Guará software adopts, the indicated adjustments are not always effective to approximate the impact point to the nominal one. This implies that the azimuth and elevation values calculated to compensate the wind disturbances are not always effective. The results obtained in this work suggest how the use of the SSEAM simulator can come to the aid of Flight Safety during a launch campaign.