Optimal Control of the Atmospheric Reentry of a Space Shuttle by an Homotopy Method

Audrey Hermant (1, 2)

1 CMAP - Centre de Mathématiques Appliquées - Ecole Polytechnique
2 Commands - Control, Optimization, Models, Methods and Applications for Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

This paper deals with the optimal control problem of the atmospheric reentry of a space shuttle with a second-order state constraint on the thermal flux. We solve the problem using the shooting algorithm combined with an homotopy method which automatically determines the structure of the optimal trajectory (composed of one boundary arc and one touch point).

Mots clés: Atmospheric reentry.; Optimal control; State constraint; Shooting algorithm; Homotopy method; Atmospheric reentry

Domaines: Optimisation et contrôle [math.OC]

Audrey Hermant. Optimal Control of the Atmospheric Reentry of a Space Shuttle by an Homotopy Method. Optimal Control Applications and Methods, 2011, 32 (6), pp.627-646. ⟨10.1002/oca.961⟩. ⟨inria-00317722⟩