Abstract:During the terminal atmospheric flight phase, the space shuttle is an unpowered glide vehicle. The terminal area energy management (TAEM) system uses energy - range profile to guide the vehicle and control the energy dissipation so as to guide the vehicle onto the safe land window. Based on total energy control principle, this paper gives the range prediction and guidance method for every sub phase of TAEM flight. Simulation results show that TAEM guidance law can meet the requirements of auto landing.