Minimum Terminal Energy Optimizations of Hypersonic Vehicles Using Indirect Methods

In this investigation, relevant aerospace problems of interest that involve solutions with minimum terminal energies are solved using indirect methods. The required considerations to solve this class of problems is discussed, and the solutions verify that the phugoiding trajectories of high energy systems satisfy the necessary conditions of optimality. An example footprint analysis and boost-glide reconnaissance application demonstrate the quality of solutions obtained using the indirect methodology. Comparisons with a modern trajectory optimization tool, DIDO, validate the indirect optimization framework used to construct solutions in this investigation.