75 YEARS OF EVOLUTION IN THRUST VECTOR CONTROL ACTUATION FOR SPACE APPLICATION (with focus on fluid power)
Résumé
This communication addresses the evolution of actuation for thrust vectoring in space applications, with special consideration to the fluid power technology. Selected examples, since the German weapons of the Word Ward II to the most recent launchers are used to illustrate the historical evolution, merits and constraints of the concepts used: hydromechanical, signal-by-wire then power-by-wire. The examples are treated adopting both functional and technological views, and a lot of numerical data are provided.