PHOEBUS: GNC Design and Performance Assessment for super orbital Re-Entry

PHOEBUS (Plane-shaped Hypersonic Orbital Re-Entry BUS) is a manned spaceplane vehicle concept under definition in the frame of an European Space Agency (ESA) contract. This paper focuses on the Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) design proposed for a super orbital entry applied to this high Lift-to-Drag ratio (L/D) vehicle. GNC system design is driven by the innovative entry strategies that, by exploiting the vehicle’s high L/D capabilities, allow a smooth re-entry (1-2 g decelerations) and high flexibility in manoeuvering from Entry Interface (EI) to Terminal Area Energy Management (TAEM).