Optical/Analytical Method for Determining the Space-Time Trajectory of a Free-Flight Rocket

摘要

The trajectory of a free-flight rocket can be determined by optical means in cases where radars or lasers cannot track effectively. The optical method described in this report uses fixed-position motion picture cameras along the nominal flight line to provide three-dimensional space and time coordinates. The method was used for a test series whose data is included with detailed sample calculations for each step of the algorithm. (ERA citation 06:019064)