Orbital Minotaur VI - Manual (Page 51)

Minotaur IV • V • VI User’s Guide Section 4.0 – Payload Environment
4.1.2. Steady-State Acceleration
Steady-state vehicle accelerations are determined from the vehicle rigid body analysis. Drag, wind and
motor thrust are applied to a vehicle model. A Monte-Carlo analysis is performed to determine variations
in vehicle acceleration due to changes in winds, motor performance and aerodynamics. The steady-state
accelerations are added to transient accelerations from the CLA to determine the maximum expected
payload acceleration. Maximum steady state accelerations are dependent on the payload mass
enhancements chosen and vehicle configuration. Figure 4.1.2-1 depicts the maximum steady state axial
acceleration as a function of payload mass. Lateral steady state accelerations are typically below 0.5 G’s.
Figure 4.1.2-1. Minotaur IV Family Maximum Axial Acceleration as a Function of Payload Mass
4.2.
Payload Vibration Environment
The Minotaur payload vibration environments are low frequency random and sinusoidal vibrations created
by the solid rocket motor combustion processes and transmitted through the launch vehicle structure.
Additionally, higher frequency aeroacoustics energy is created by air flow over the surface of the vehicle.
Some of this aeroacoustic energy is transmitted via the launch vehicle structure to the payload. The
majority of the aeroacoustic energy is transmitted to the payload directly as acoustic energy through the
fairing.
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