• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2013

An analytic approach to determine the optimal conditions for maximizing altitude of a sounding rocket is suggested. The behavior of the one-dimensional momentum equation including thrust, gravitational force and aerodynamic drag force is investigated. For the case where an analytic solution exists, a characteristic equation for determining optimal condition for maximizing altitude at the burn-out state and that for maximizing altitude at the stationary state are developed and verified with numerical experiments.