Optimum Rocket Trajectories With Aerodynamic Drag

Abstract

To the extent t h a t one is able to make rough estimates of velocity losses due to gravity, drag and turning, these losses can be included as modifications of the required V in Equat ion [5], and the corrections will be reflected in the determination of the IJLJ. The resulting improvement is, of course, no bet ter than the estimates of the losses; hence this method is not a substitute for accurate calculations with a high-speed digital computer. Instead, it has proved to be a valuable auxiliary, in providing very good slide-rule designs, thereby materially