Pilot re-entry guidance and control

The present paper considers some of t h e problems confronting the pilot during a manually controlled re-entry, and some of t h e a r e a s where a d d i t i o n a l r esearch could most p r o f i t a b l y c o n t r i b u t e t o a more complete knowledge of manual control.The r e l a t i o n s h i p between re-entry vehicle configuration and t h e n a t u r e and s e v e r i t y of t h e manual c o n t r o l maneuvers i s discussed in terms of the energy a v a i l a b l e t o c o n t r o l t h e v e h i c l e , and the display-control relationship as they relate to the functions performed by t h e human operator.The importance of training through simulation i s s t r e s s e d and some of the areas where a d d i t i o n a l simulation studies are needed i s pointed out.It i s shown t h a t t h e problem of escape continues t o be a c r i t i c a l problem which requires considerable effort i f a solution i s t o be a t t a i n e d .With regard to future needs, it i s pointed out that simulation studies w i l l continue to be one of t h e most important vehicles f o r r e s e a r c h i n t o manual c o n t r o l problems and that many more studies of the basic behavioral components o f manual c o n t r o l a r e needed i n o r d e r t o develop more comp l e t e models of t h e human control process.In conclusion, several articles are summarized in the annotated bibliography which are representative of the research now being carried out concerning manual control during re-entry.