AAS 97-672
SPACE LIFT RANGE SYSTEM LAUNCH VEHICLE TRAJECTORY MEASUREMENT CAPABILITY TRADE STUDY RESULTS
R. Baker, C.W. Morris, and J.F. Richardson - Lockheed Martin Corporation
Abstract
New Eastern and Western Range launch support instrumentation capabilities are to be implemented for the Air Force Space Command under the Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) Program and associated efforts. RSA Program goals are to provide operational launch support capabilities that are more responsive and cost effective than those currently available. This paper review results of the GPS Trade Study performed under the RSA IIA phase of the program to reevaluate the proposed selection of GPS based technology for Launch Vehicle (LV) trajectory position and velocity determination. The trade study consisted of technical assessment and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) comparison of GPS and radar based configurations including the launch vehicles. The study concludes that GPS is currently the most cost effective and technically feasible method of acquiring LV trajectory data. GPS capabilities provide generally improved accuracy and significant cost savings compared to metric radar. The gro