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How did the X-15 control attitude above the Kármán line?
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This interesting, archived page https://www.webcitation.org/618QHms8h?url=http://www.fai.org/astronautics/100km.asp which I found in this answer, says:
In the early 1960´s, the U.S. X-15 Aircraft was flown up to 108 km. In that part of the flight it was really a free falling rocket, with no aerodynamic control possible. In fact, it was considered an astronautical flight, and the pilot got, as a consequence, his "astronautical wings", i.e. the recognition of being an astronaut.
A reading of this paragraph suggests that at or near this altitude, the X-15 had no attitude control available from aerodynamic surfaces nor propulsion (ergo the use of the expression "free-falling"). Was there in fact vector-able thrust available, or was it really just a hopefully-not-tumbling-very-much spacecraft near its periapsis? Or reaction wheels, or something else?
adcs spaceplane x-15 karman-line
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uhoh
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up vote
2
down vote
favorite
This interesting, archived page https://www.webcitation.org/618QHms8h?url=http://www.fai.org/astronautics/100km.asp which I found in this answer, says:
In the early 1960´s, the U.S. X-15 Aircraft was flown up to 108 km. In that part of the flight it was really a free falling rocket, with no aerodynamic control possible. In fact, it was considered an astronautical flight, and the pilot got, as a consequence, his "astronautical wings", i.e. the recognition of being an astronaut.
A reading of this paragraph suggests that at or near this altitude, the X-15 had no attitude control available from aerodynamic surfaces nor propulsion (ergo the use of the expression "free-falling"). Was there in fact vector-able thrust available, or was it really just a hopefully-not-tumbling-very-much spacecraft near its periapsis? Or reaction wheels, or something else?
adcs spaceplane x-15 karman-line
asked 3 hours ago
uhoh
30k1599365
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
This interesting, archived page https://www.webcitation.org/618QHms8h?url=http://www.fai.org/astronautics/100km.asp which I found in this answer, says:
In the early 1960´s, the U.S. X-15 Aircraft was flown up to 108 km. In that part of the flight it was really a free falling rocket, with no aerodynamic control possible. In fact, it was considered an astronautical flight, and the pilot got, as a consequence, his "astronautical wings", i.e. the recognition of being an astronaut.
A reading of this paragraph suggests that at or near this altitude, the X-15 had no attitude control available from aerodynamic surfaces nor propulsion (ergo the use of the expression "free-falling"). Was there in fact vector-able thrust available, or was it really just a hopefully-not-tumbling-very-much spacecraft near its periapsis? Or reaction wheels, or something else?
adcs spaceplane x-15 karman-line
asked 3 hours ago
uhoh
30k1599365
This interesting, archived page https://www.webcitation.org/618QHms8h?url=http://www.fai.org/astronautics/100km.asp which I found in this answer, says:
In the early 1960´s, the U.S. X-15 Aircraft was flown up to 108 km. In that part of the flight it was really a free falling rocket, with no aerodynamic control possible. In fact, it was considered an astronautical flight, and the pilot got, as a consequence, his "astronautical wings", i.e. the recognition of being an astronaut.
A reading of this paragraph suggests that at or near this altitude, the X-15 had no attitude control available from aerodynamic surfaces nor propulsion (ergo the use of the expression "free-falling"). Was there in fact vector-able thrust available, or was it really just a hopefully-not-tumbling-very-much spacecraft near its periapsis? Or reaction wheels, or something else?
adcs spaceplane x-15 karman-line
adcs spaceplane x-15 karman-line
asked 3 hours ago
uhoh
30k1599365
asked 3 hours ago
uhoh
30k1599365
asked 3 hours ago
uhoh
30k1599365
asked 3 hours ago
uhoh
30k1599365
asked 3 hours ago
uhoh
30k1599365
30k1599365
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
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The X-15 had a reaction control system for all three axes using thrusters with hydrogen-peroxide monopropellant. There was an automatic as well as a manual mode. The manual mode used a single three-axis control joystick.
There were two completely independent systems. Each system used six RCS thrusters, two for each axis for both rotation directions. See this NASA paper. The image is from page 23.
The RCS thrusters were used from a height of 140,000 feet or about 42 km up to 108 km. So the thrusters were used well below the Karman line. The transition from aerodynamic to reaction control was done immediately after main engine burnout.
answered 2 hours ago
Uwe
7,59822334
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The X-15 has a reaction control system. In this image, it's item 2, 13 and 28, labeled 'ballistic control system'.
It was operated via a joystick.
Detail of two of the thrusters:
answered 2 hours ago
Hobbes
78.4k2214355
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
The X-15 had a reaction control system for all three axes using thrusters with hydrogen-peroxide monopropellant. There was an automatic as well as a manual mode. The manual mode used a single three-axis control joystick.
There were two completely independent systems. Each system used six RCS thrusters, two for each axis for both rotation directions. See this NASA paper. The image is from page 23.
The RCS thrusters were used from a height of 140,000 feet or about 42 km up to 108 km. So the thrusters were used well below the Karman line. The transition from aerodynamic to reaction control was done immediately after main engine burnout.
answered 2 hours ago
Uwe
7,59822334
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
The X-15 had a reaction control system for all three axes using thrusters with hydrogen-peroxide monopropellant. There was an automatic as well as a manual mode. The manual mode used a single three-axis control joystick.
There were two completely independent systems. Each system used six RCS thrusters, two for each axis for both rotation directions. See this NASA paper. The image is from page 23.
The RCS thrusters were used from a height of 140,000 feet or about 42 km up to 108 km. So the thrusters were used well below the Karman line. The transition from aerodynamic to reaction control was done immediately after main engine burnout.
answered 2 hours ago
Uwe
7,59822334
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
The X-15 had a reaction control system for all three axes using thrusters with hydrogen-peroxide monopropellant. There was an automatic as well as a manual mode. The manual mode used a single three-axis control joystick.
There were two completely independent systems. Each system used six RCS thrusters, two for each axis for both rotation directions. See this NASA paper. The image is from page 23.
The RCS thrusters were used from a height of 140,000 feet or about 42 km up to 108 km. So the thrusters were used well below the Karman line. The transition from aerodynamic to reaction control was done immediately after main engine burnout.
answered 2 hours ago
Uwe
7,59822334
The X-15 had a reaction control system for all three axes using thrusters with hydrogen-peroxide monopropellant. There was an automatic as well as a manual mode. The manual mode used a single three-axis control joystick.
There were two completely independent systems. Each system used six RCS thrusters, two for each axis for both rotation directions. See this NASA paper. The image is from page 23.
The RCS thrusters were used from a height of 140,000 feet or about 42 km up to 108 km. So the thrusters were used well below the Karman line. The transition from aerodynamic to reaction control was done immediately after main engine burnout.
answered 2 hours ago
Uwe
7,59822334
edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago
Uwe
7,59822334
answered 2 hours ago
Uwe
7,59822334
answered 2 hours ago
Uwe
7,59822334
7,59822334
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
The X-15 has a reaction control system. In this image, it's item 2, 13 and 28, labeled 'ballistic control system'.
It was operated via a joystick.
Detail of two of the thrusters:
answered 2 hours ago
Hobbes
78.4k2214355
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
The X-15 has a reaction control system. In this image, it's item 2, 13 and 28, labeled 'ballistic control system'.
It was operated via a joystick.
Detail of two of the thrusters:
answered 2 hours ago
Hobbes
78.4k2214355
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
The X-15 has a reaction control system. In this image, it's item 2, 13 and 28, labeled 'ballistic control system'.
It was operated via a joystick.
Detail of two of the thrusters:
answered 2 hours ago
Hobbes
78.4k2214355
The X-15 has a reaction control system. In this image, it's item 2, 13 and 28, labeled 'ballistic control system'.
It was operated via a joystick.
Detail of two of the thrusters:
answered 2 hours ago
Hobbes
78.4k2214355
answered 2 hours ago
Hobbes
78.4k2214355
answered 2 hours ago
Hobbes
78.4k2214355
answered 2 hours ago
Hobbes
78.4k2214355
78.4k2214355
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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