Flight Control Augmentors for Aft-Center-of-Gravity Launch Vehicles

Abstract

The author presents the details of the designed  ight control augmentors, the wind tunnel test programs conducted at the NASAMarshall Space Flight Center, and the stability and control analyses results for the augmented launch vehicle. Forward and aft, all-movable, blunt-trailing-edge  ight control augmentors have been designed and wind tunnel tested to provide the required  ight control augmentation for a family of aft-center-of-gravity launch vehicles that could not be adequately controlled using engine gimbaling alone. Previous publications have presented the other parts of this comprehensive research project: the developmental stages of the program, the comprehensive reviews of our national heritage of launch vehicles that have used aerodynamic surfaces and current use of these by other nations, and a state-of-the-art assessment of smart materials and advanced composites directly applicable to the innovativedesign of the  ight control augmentors. It is shown that the blunt-trailing-edge design provides the maximum  ight control augmentation.