Flight-simulated launch-pad-abort-to-landing maneuvers for a lifting body

The results of an in-flight investigation of the feasibility of conducting a successful landing following a launchpad abort of a vertically-launched lifting body are presented. The study attempted to duplicate the abort-to-landing trajectory from the point of apogee through final flare and included the steep glide and a required high-speed, low-altitude turn to the runway heading. The steep glide was flown by reference to ground-provided guidance. The low-altitude turn was flown visually with a reduced fieldof-view duplicating that of the simulated lifting body. Results from the in-flight experiment are shown to agree with ground-based simulation results; however, these tests should not be regarded as a definitive due to performance and control law dissimilarities between the two vehicles.