Vs controller design for simulation of the SpaceLiner suborbital two-staged reusable launch vehicle using SIFCDL (Simulation Integrated Flight Controller Development Lab)

To allow the testing and evaluation of procedures and functionalities for an improved handling of space vehicle operation on ATM stakeholder level, a Space & Air Traffic Management (SATM) testbed has been established at DLR. It has to cover Aeronautical Information Management integration concepts, Air Traffic Control procedure adaptations and Air Traffic Controller Support as well as required System Wide Information Management (SWIM) based data exchange aspects. One key element of the SATM testbed is a Space Flight Simulator, which has been provided with a realistic flight dynamics model for the SpaceLiner orbiter, a two-staged suborbital RLV which aims at future high-speed intercontinental passenger transport. To provide realistic flight behavior, the simulation model, based on X-Plane, shall be equipped with vertical speed autopilot controller. Core of each flight controller development is the precise derivation of the functional flight controller requirements from the aircraft dynamics. Using tabled flight dynamics data of unknown granularity contains the risk of fine grained controller tuning based on a too coarse grained fundament. The presented solution is based on the geometry modeled SpaceLiner flight dynamics in X-Plane, using SIFCDL for first findings of a vertical speed autopilot controller

Simulation of new Display Concepts for Air/Space Traffic Control Systems

A long track record on research on display concepts is available in the domain to assist the Air Traffic Controller in his situation awareness. Most of the concepts were designed to reduce Air Traffic Management (ATM) complexity with respect to traffic density, identification and resolution of conflict situations as well as to enhance the efficiency of the air transport system. The existing concepts mostly do not take into consideration air traffic and space traffic above flight level 500. Further on, higher speed and higher rates of decent of space vehicles are not fully considered. Also the operation of space vehicles at spaceports - which could be also passenger airports - has to be considered. Landing and ground operations can make use of modern remote tower installations (RTO), which will especially facilitate landing on remote sites or sites located away from operation centers and the related customers. For the implementation of future display concepts, a validation process is required. We discuss the assets of the DLR Air Transport Validation Center for life virtual constructive simulations and the methodology of the European Operation Concept Validation Methodology (EOCVM) of Eurocontrol. Results include the validation of 3D-Displays for enhanced situation awareness for new types of airspace users and a successful validation for RTO systems

Air Traffic Impact Analysis Design for a Suborbital Point-to-Point Passenger Transport Concept

Space flight activities are growing on an international level, thereby creating an evident need for a safe and efficient integration of space vehicle operations into the air traffic system. For concepts like very high-speed intercontinental passenger transport via suborbital point-2-point flights, as it is proposed by the DLR SpaceLiner, this integration issue is becoming especially relevant. As part of a case study approach to analyse the effects of space vehicle operations on air traffic and to evaluate mitigation strategies and optimized ATM integration, a traffic impact analysis has been prepared and conducted for the SpaceLiner return trajectory towards a European landing site. First results of the analysis will be presented together with the methodology and modeling approach which has been applied

Assessment of the Impact of Air Launch Operations on Air Traffic in Europe

The development in commercial space transportation is strongly driven by a growing demand for payload capacities and cost efficient access to space. Accordingly, there is also a demand for further launch opportunities in the European region. Factors such as short waiting times for launches, rapid response capabilities, proximity of production sites to the launch site and independence from established and highly utilized launch systems are increasingly playing a role. Air launches are discussed as a way to meet this demand. They also offer the particular advantage of relatively low requirements on infrastructure and location of the spaceport compared to conventional vertical launch systems. Since the actual launch is not bound to the spaceport, this method also offers a high degree of flexibility with regard to the design of the launch trajectory and the associated interaction with air traffic. This paper examines the interaction between proposed air launch operations and air traffic for a previously selected mission profile in Northern Europe. Data from historic launch events are used as an input for modelling of the required flight restriction areas. The analysis provides information on the expected extent of air traffic impairments and existing optimization capabilities

Sven Kaltenhaeuser

Mr. Sven Kaltenhaeuser graduated from the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany, joining the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance in 1999 as scientist within the domain of Air Traffic Management (ATM) validation and real time simulation. He has been involved as validation expert and project manager within multiple national and international research campaigns and became head of the ATM Simulation Department of the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance in 2006. Sven Kaltenhaeuser is in charge of the DLR Air Traffic Validation Center, which has been initiated in 2012, and is representing DLR at the FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (FAA COE CST). His current fields of work include the development of concepts for higher airspace operations and the integration of space vehicle operations into Air Traffic Management.https://commons.erau.edu/stm-images/1114/thumbnail.jp