Christopher D. Marley
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Marshall Space Flight Center
Advisor: Joseph F. Powers

Abstract
The goal of this study was to independently verify the results of a dynamic simulation of the Ares I Launch Vehicle. The aspects of the simulation that were investigated pertained to the fuel slosh. The fuel slosh in both the original simulation and the verification simulation was modeled as a mechanical system consisting of a spring mass damper. The motion of the spring mass, which was based on empirical data to match the actual fuel slosh motion, was related to both an inertial reference frame and a vehicle frame using implicit dynamic equations. While this new simulation model was used to verify the simulation of the Ares I, the model was also developed as a tool that could be used in future situation not relating to this particular launch vehicle. As far as the Ares I verification, different simulation results, such as the force exerted on the vehicle by the slosh mass or the moment about the vehicle center of gravity due to the mass, among other things, from both simulation results were compared to validate the original simulation model. It was found through this study that the two simulations matched closely.