Demonstration of the Ballistic Missile Range Safety Technology (BMRST) Mobile GPS-Based System for the QRLV-2 Launch

摘要

The purpose of the Ballistic Missile Range Safety Technology (BMRST) program is to develop and demonstrate a mobile launch range tracking and command destruct system based upon the Global Positioning System (GPS) that can provide range safety functions for military and commercial launch vehicles. The BMRST System consists of an on-board flight unit that provides precise navigation information using GPS and inertial sensors. This on-board data is telemetered via an S-Band data link, which is received by two mobile tracking antenna sub-systems and passed to the BMRST Mobile Operations Center (MOC). These data are processed in the MOC and displayed so that decisions can be made about the continued flight of the vehicle. When necessary the command destruct system can be activated to terminate the mission. As part of the development of this system extensive testing has been conducted, culminating in the successful tracking and command of the Quick Response Launch Vehicle (QRLV)-2 launch from Kodiak, AK in April 2002. This paper describes the BMRST System and its performance for the QRLV-2 demonstration effort.