Reentry trajectory planning optimization based on sequential quadratic programming

An optimal trajectory is very important to reusable launch vehicle (RLV) which facing the critical heating and aero force in reentry environment. The trajectory planning is a typical large scale and multi-constraint optimization problem. In this paper, an optimal trajectory planning for RLV from the beginning upper atmosphere state to lower atmosphere site with the minimum accumulated heat load or maximum range under multi-constraint reentry condition is studied. To achieve this goal, the dynamics of RLV is first described and the cost function of the optimal problem is formulated with multi reentry constraints. Then, a series of discrete trajectory points were designed on reentry corridor. The process of searching the optimized trajectory for RLV with the Sequential Quadratic Programming(SQP) is proposed. This algorithm is implemented on a RLV which similar the X-33 and its validity is proven by simulation result.