AAS 97-686
TRAJECTORY PROPAGATION OVER VERY SHORT TIME SPANS
G.J. Der, A.T. Monuki, R. Danchick - TRW
Abstract
Although a large number of books and technical papers in physics, applied mathematics and aerospace sciences treat trajectory propagation, few, if any, have compared the efficiency of analytic and numerical methods over very short time spans. Efficiency is concerned with computational timing, accuracy, stability and implementation complexity. By very short time spans we mean ten seconds or less, or, in some cases, as little as a few milliseconds. Reference trajectories are established by (1) a numerically exact Vinti solution, and (2) numerical integration by a variety of integrators. Efficiency results are obtained for a very short range ground launch rocket, an exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor, and a high altitude satellite.