FIXED-BASE VISUAL SIMULATION OF OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE DURING TERMINAL DESCENT OF ADVANCED APOLLO SPACECRAFT WITH AN ALL-FLEXIBLE PARAWING

摘要

A fixed-base visual simulation study has been conducted to determine the ability of an onboard pilot to control a single-keel all-flexible parawing and advanced Apollo spacecraft combination so as to avoid obstacles located in the desired landing area. The results of the investigation showed that the pilot avoided the obstacles approximately 96 percent of the flights and generally landed within 500 ft (152.4 m) of the center of the desired site regardless of the maximum turn-rate capability of the vehicle.