This paper presents the advantages of integrating linear time varying (LTV) performance analyses into the space launcher control design and certification process. Multiple performance metrics of the atmospheric flight phase for an expendable launch vehicle are analyzed for two different control strategies. The analyses cover wind disturbance and uncertainty in the launcher dynamics. A disk margin-type uncertainty is implemented to relate the analysis to classical gain and phase
margins commonly used in certification processes. The uncertainties input/output behavior is covered using integral quadratic constraints. Thus, recent advances on the worst-case gain analysis of finite horizon LTV systems can be used. The corresponding analysis condition is based on a parameterized Riccati differential equation’s solvability, which leads to a readily solvable nonlinear optimization problem. Using this, it is possible to explicitly respect the time varying dynamics
of the space launcher in a analytical worst-case performance analysis. The applied performance certificate in combination with a sophisticated wind model provides a worst-case performance which directly compares to the nonlinear simulation. The results of a nominal and uncertain LTV analysis are compared against corresponding Monte Carlo simulations of the respective industry-sized nonlinear launcher model. These comparisons demonstrate the computational advantages and potential acceleration of the control design and certification process using LTV methods.