Optimal Accuracy Rocket Trajectories

Abstract

The rocket optimization formulation of B.D. Fried is modified slightly to facilitate the study of maximum accuracy trajectories. Various illustrative special solutions are obtained, particularly perturbation results valid for small thrust. For surface‐to‐surface rockets in a Kepler field, optimal thrust programs are obtained numerically, their accuracy is studied quantitatively, and comparison of range and of accuracy is made with rockets using a constant‐angle thrust program. Optimization leads to only a slight increase in range but to a substantial gain in accuracy. The possible application of rocket optimization methods to the focusing of charged particles is also suggested.