A dynamic model and a new approach to analyzing the success of the soft landing process of a spacecraft with a mechanical landing device

Abstract

An approach is proposed to analyze one of the most critical stages of spacecraft operation – the soft landing process, starting from the moment of the first contact of the spacecraft with the ground to its complete stop. It is noted that it is necessary to extinguish the significant kinetic energy that the device possesses at the moment of contact with the surface. The most common type of landing device is considered spring-lever type, including several supports with deformable energy absorbers. Limited opportunities for ground-based experimental testing of the soft landing process lead to the need to use a dynamic model to analyze the success of landing and rational selection of the characteristics of the landing device. The model of the landing process is based on the representation of the vehicle body and its landing device elements as a structurally complex mechanical system of bodies with internal connections, the type of which is determined by restrictions imposed on the relative movement of the system bodies. An approach to the for-mulation of special equations for determining bond reactions that reflects these limitations is presented. The success criteria of the landing process are described. The success analysis of the planting process is illustrated by a specific example.