STS Rocket Launch Simulation Algorithm Tutorial with MATLAB (Using Euler's Method ODE's)

Hi Everyone!

If you are interested in rockets as well as programming, then this video is a MUST see for you!

I teach you how to program a flight simulation of the NASA Space Shuttle launch using MATLAB. The Euler's method is utilized here as it is a popular method used for solving ordinary differential equations or ODE's. The flight of a rocket launch can be described by four ODE's. This rocket launch includes the gravity turn mechanism which is required in order to fly the rocket parallel to the ground. This way, the rocket is then able to release it's payload directly into orbit.

The algorithm covers the following mathematical concepts mainly:

1) Euler's Method
2) Spline Interpolation
3) Arrays and Array operations
4) For and While Loops
5) If-Else statements

The algorithm can be implemented into any programming language (C, C++, Python, JAVA etc.)

After explaining the algorithm, I then show you a simulation of the results in the FlightGear Open Source Simulator. It is possible to connect MATLAB to a number of flight simulators namely FlightGear, X-Plane, as well as Microsoft FS.

To learn how to connect MATLAB and FlightGear, you can watch my previous video here at:

I hope you enjoyed this video. I had performed this simulation a year ago, and am now releasing it to help you all who are passionate about this field!

Best Wishes
VDEngineering
~~My Udemy Courses on Motion Planning / Navigation / Trajectory Planning:

[Damitrix]

Please add link or reply with the Thrust_Mass_Flow excel file. The link you gave has been removed.

[gabrieljesus]

Where can I get the time thrust mass flow xlsx file?

[spaceInfiniteWave]

Amazing work! Keep doing this high quality vids!!!

[nightcoreit]

Great video man! Can you explain how you got the equations of motions please ?

[ram-ibs]

I didn't get what is THRUST_MASS_FLOW?
please help

[photo_rohan]

Thanks for posting this video and the MATLAB code. I was looking at how to simulate launches from Vandenberg. If you dont mind me asking, where did you get the thrust data for the Shuttle?

[anandnarayanan]

Where is that Flight data file ? From where should I download it ?

[TheNikhilmishras]

can suggest some other projects related to space?

[hamishbrown]

how could I split the velocity into horizontal and vertical components? Would it just be as simple as doing V*cos(gam) and V*sin(gam)?

[ashwinisbiradar]

Can u tell code for 'develop a straight and level flight simulation program using matlab '

[bishoymagdi]

Iam making a simulation of NASA space shuttle using Matlab Simulink with Flightgear Simulator.
Iam Using Matlab R2016b and Flightgear 2016.1.1 and the first time i simulate it i got undefined variable for pitch, DR but i know that first i must run the shuttle model m file then i have to run the run first m file this will make pitch, DR have values from the excel so i solved this problem but after that i have the problem in the fifth picture.
Iam a chemical engineering student in a bachelor project so i dont know so much about simulink and aerodynamics.
I want a quick reply to solve this error and thanks.
My ERROR is:
The 'Vector of input values' in block 'model/h' must be a real vector that contains at least two elements
Component:Simulink | Category:Modelerror
The 'Vector of input values' in block 'model/pitch' must be a real vector that contains at least two elements
Component:Simulink | Category:Modelerror
The 'Vector of input values' in block 'model/x' must be a real vector that contains at least two elements

[christoph]

This could be so good and helpful, if there would only be the xlsx file somewhere to download. I want to understand the code, not use hours to find thrust data. Your videos are still extremely helpful but this is frustrating.

[jhanolaer]

Is there any method aside the eulers method?

[hamishbrown]

does anyone know why the initial condition is v = 1 and y = 50?

[kelvinkane]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

[npa]

Can someone share how to get vdγ/dt = -(g-v^2/(R_E+h))cos(γ)

[rushikeshbadgujar]

It's informative but extremely fast and less comprehensive. A beginner could barely keep up with the video and would struggle to actually understand. Almost all the videos.

[lalitdeshmukh]

hey vd where can i
get the time thrust mass flow xlsx file?