Ricerc@Sapienza

This research aims at the analysis and development of filtering and estimation methodologies in the areas of ascent trajectory reconstruction and launch vehicle (LV) modeling. The main objective is the development and validation of a complete trajectory estimation process based on post-flight data applicable to small- or medium-size rockets, as the Italian LV, VEGA. To this end, a suitable mathematical model of the vehicle needs to be derived, which accounts for rigid-body translation and rotation, aerodynamic and thrust forces and moments, structural elastic dynamics modeled using rocket bending modes, inertial coupling effects due to nozzle rotation (tail-wags-dog effect), actuators dynamics and time-varying properties (tabular). The trajectory reconstruction will also allow to investigate the actual scattering of (uncertain) model parameters, such as aeromechanical and bending properties, thus improving the overall knowledge of the system based on available flight data.