A study on optimal returns of an AOTV with the limit of the aerodynamic heating

In this paper optimal returns of an AOTV (Aeroassisted Orbital Transfer Vehicle) from the high earth orbit within the limit of the aerodynamic heating are studied numerically, which minimize the characteristic velocities for decelerations and plane changes at the atmospheric flights and the impulses in space. As a result from computations optimal control methods are remarkably changed by the heat limit, but with them in these cases we can still keep the characteristic velocities small.