One of the main vibration problems of aerospace vehicles with liquid fuel propulsion system is fuel sloshing. This phenomenon is a low frequency vibrational challenge which can affect the motion of the vehicle and degrade the stability of the main control system. In this regards, the motion of the liquid will be very critical when the frequency of the sloshing is very close to the frequencies o...

This paper summarizes the design and development of a fault tolerant linear electromechanical actuator for the lower stage thrust vector control of a satellite launch vehicle. Power electronics and electric machine technologies have evolved to the point that high-power electromechanical actuators present a viable alternative in applications historically served by hydraulic devices. In selecting...

This paper explores application of the L1 adaptive control architecture to a generic flexible Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV). Adaptive control has the potential to improve performance and enhance safety of space vehicles that often operate in very unforgiving and occasionally highly uncertain environments. NASA’s development of the next generation space launch vehicles presents an opportunity for ad...

The NASA Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) produced a transportation architecture for returning humans to the moon affordably and safely. ESAS determined that the best lunar exploration strategy was to separate the launch of crew from the launch of cargo, thereby requiring two launches per lunar mission. An alternate concept for the cargo launch vehicle is a side mounted Shuttle-der...