FLIGHT EVALUATION OF GN&C SYSTEM AND VERTICAL LANDING DYNAMICS OF REUSABLE ROCKET VEHICLE

As a part of basic study for reusable sounding rockets, a sub-scale test rocket was developed and flight test was conducted by IS AS. It was planned to demonstrate the GN&C (Guidance, Navigation and Control) of vertical take-off and vertical landing, and to attain the knowledge and experience of reusable propulsion system operability. The sub-scale reusable test rocket has performed a series of successful vertical take-off and landing flights in March 1999. It was the first experimental flight of reusable launch vehicle in Japan. The second test flight is scheduled in 2001. This paper describes the pre- and post-flight analysis focusing on the GN&C system and landing dynamics. The flight analyses show satisfactory performance as was planned.