FLIGHT SIMULATION THEORY

The basic equation of rocket motion during thrusting and coasting is obtained from Newton's First
Law of Motion, F = ma. Where, F is the summation of all external forces applied to the rocket,
m is the mass of the rocket and a is the acceleration of the rocket. Acceleration is also expressed
as dV/dt or the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. The forces acting on a rocket
during the thrusting phase of flight are its weight (W), thrust (T), and aerodynamic drag ( D = Cd *
1/2 *  * V^2 * A). Where Cd is the drag coefficient,  is the air density, V is the velocity and A is
the reference area of the rocket, typically the section just behind the nose cone. However, during
the coasting phase of flight the forces acting on the rocket are its weight (W) and aerodynamic
drag ( D = Cd * 1/2 *  * V^2 * A) and T (Thrust) = 0 because the rocket motor is no longer
operational.

THRUSTING PHASE OF FLIGHT

For vertical flight, Newton's equation of motion for the thrusting phase becomes: m * dV/dt = T -
Cd * 1/2 *  * V^2 * A - W. The following equation is derived for the term, dV/t, Notice that m =
W/g in the equation of motion. The acceleration term, dV/dt determines the added (+/-) increment
of velocity at the end of each time step (t) during the flight integration process where dV = dV/dt
* dt is the incremental velocity.

Velocity (V) and altitude (H) at the (n+1)'th time level are determined from the following equations
knowing the velocity and altitude at the previous or n'th time level. Typically, the initial thrusting
boundary conditions are V(1) = 0.0 ft/sec and H(1) = 0.0 feet at t = 0 seconds. The equations of
motion are integrated by performing the analysis at a time step, t. These equations can be
integrated using a variety of techniques including the Euler method or ordinary time stepping.

Rocket acceleration (G's) is estimated using the following equation. Where, V is the rocket
velocity, t is the time increment and g is the local acceleration of gravity.

COASTING PHASE OF FLIGHT

For vertical flight, Newton's equation of motion for the coasting phase becomes: m * dV/dt = - Cd
* 1/2 *  * V^2 * A - W. The following equation is derived for the term, dV/t, Notice that m = W/g
in the equation of motion. The acceleration term, dV/dt determines the added (+/-) increment of
velocity at the end of each time step (t) during the flight integration process where dV = dV/dt *
dt is the incremental velocity.

Velocity (V) and altitude (H) at the (n+1)'th time level are determined from the following equations
knowing the velocity and altitude at the previous or n'th time level. Typically, the initial coasting
boundary conditions are V(1) = VbMax ft/sec and H(1) = HbMax feet at t = 0 seconds. The
equations of motion are integrated by performing the analysis at a time step, t. These equations
can be integrated using a variety of techniques including the Euler method or ordinary time
stepping.

Rocket acceleration (G's) is estimated using the following equation. Where, V is the rocket
velocity, t is the time increment and g is the local acceleration of gravity.