Entry Guidance With Terminal Time Control Based on Quasi-Equilibrium Glide Condition

Abstract

The terminal constraints in entry guidance design are generally position and velocity constraints. In this study, the terminal time constraint is also taken into account. The estimates of time-to-go and range-to-go are discussed based on the quasi-equilibrium glide condition. Further analysis reveals that only two among the time-to-go, range-to-go, and terminal velocity are independent. Based on this observation, a guidance method is designed, which provides a new aspect to exploit the potential of entry guidance.