Graduate Researcher, M.S. Thesis
University of Oklahoma
THE CHALLENGE:
Developing a modeling framework to study how chemical-thruster startup behavior changes delivered impulse and trajectory predictions relative to idealized impulsive maneuvers.
An impulsive maneuver model applies a velocity change instantaneously. Real thrusters take time to develop thrust, so the delivered impulse over a short, fixed-duration burn can differ from a simplified reference. My research examines how startup behavior contributes to maneuver error and when that difference matters to trajectory prediction.
THE SOLUTION:
I am combining a literature review of impulsive and finite-duration maneuver models with numerical trajectory propagation in MATLAB and Python. The framework compares reference maneuvers with burns that include time-varying startup thrust while holding the burn direction and duration fixed for controlled comparisons.
An exponential rise is an initial candidate representation of startup behavior, with the framework intended to accommodate other fits as the available thrust data and model requirements develop. Integrating the thrust history provides a basis for comparing delivered impulse; trajectory propagation then examines the resulting state differences.
The broader workflow includes fitting thrust-time data, checking numerical consistency, and documenting the assumptions that connect the propulsion model to the maneuver model. This supports comparison of startup-curve effects without attributing unrelated modeling differences to the transient.
RESULTS + NEXT STEPS:
The thesis is in progress. Current work includes the literature review, mathematical framework, and simulation development. Quantitative findings on maneuver error, validated model parameters, and compensation performance are not yet presented here.
Next steps include selecting and fitting suitable thrust data, validating the propagation workflow, and comparing trajectory errors across controlled burn cases. Any future correction strategy will be evaluated against the same reference assumptions.