Abstract

The contrast camera tracking system at the National Flight Test Facility is the primary system for range safety for ground-based flight tests of high- performance spacecraft. The range, a 30 x 30 x 80 cubic ft flight volume inside a building, controls experimental craft capable of 5g accelerations. This facility uses a tracking system capable of providing a three- dimensional position vector of the craft as it flies throughout the facility flight volume. The tracking system implements two contrast tracking cameras situated in two locations in the facility. Each tracking camera tracks the craft in one plane, and the two planes are then mated together through an algorithm in order to provide a position vector. This position vector is compared to the flight safety volume in which the craft is permitted to fly, whereby the range safety system shuts the craft down if the flight of the craft exceeds this volume. (R.E.P.)

Date

August 11, 1989

Authors

Susan L Hall, David A Barnhart

Journal

Society of Flight Test Engineers, Annual Symposium, 20 th, Reno, NV, Proceedings

Volume

18

Issue

21