Launch vehicle performance analysis in conceptual design is traditionally done by finding the optimal trajectory on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis. In general, the direct method is used to solve the infinite dimensional optimal control problem for each vehicle. Subject matter experts and trajectory analysts work manually to find usable trajectories by changing the control variable initial guesses for the direct method. In conceptual design studies, where multiple vehicles are considered and compared, the manual trajectory analysis process limits the number of vehicles considered. This paper presents a method for analyzing set of vehicles with the goal of generating a surrogate model, which can be used to rapidly explore the launch vehicle design space of interest. The method is applied to a Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle. This vehicle is used because it represents the challenges of trajectory optimization for earth-to-orbit launch vehicles. The method is applied to consider vehicles in the design space around the Delta Ⅳ Heavy to simulate a conceptual design study for a new launch vehicle.
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