It’s ONLY Rocket Science (An Introduction in Plain English) - Dr. Lucy Rogers

Introduction....................................................... .................... 14 1 Introduction................................... Space......................................... Space................. ........................................... ................... 15 Solar Wind and the Van Allen Radiation Belts..................... 15 Gravity....................................... Gravity............... ........................................... ................... 18 Propulsion.................................... Propulsion............ ........................................... ................... 20 Orbits........................................ Orbits................ ........................................... ................... 25 Inclination................................... Inclination........... ....................................... ............... Eccentricity.................................. Eccentricity.......... ....................................... ............... Space Debris.................. Debris.......................................... ................................... ........... 27 Magnitude..................................... Magnitude............. ........................................... ................... 28 Space Law..................... Law............................................. ................................... ........... 29 General Information........... Information................................... ................................... ........... 30 2 Rockets and Spacecraft............................................. Spacecraft............................................. 31 Pre-spacefl ight.................. ight.......................................... ............................... ....... 31 Rocket Basics................. Basics......................................... ................................... ........... 38 Multistaging.................................. Multistaging.......... ....................................... ............... Launch Pad to Orbit................... Orbit.......................................... ....................... Launch Vehicles............... Vehicles....................................... ................................... ........... 42 Sounding Rockets.................. Rockets.......................................... ............................... ....... 45 Attitude Control and Movement.................................... Movement.................................... 46 Gravity Gradients and Tidal Forces........................... Spin Stabilization........ Stabilization................................ ................................... ........... Three Axis Stabilization.......... Stabilization................................... ........................... .. Magnetic Torquers............. Torquers...................................... ............................... ...... Spacecraft.................................... Spacecraft............ ........................................... ................... 52 Communication and Navigation Spacecraft...................... Fly-by Spacecraft............. Spacecraft...................................... ............................... ...... Orbiter Spacecraft............ Spacecraft..................................... ............................... ...... Atmospheric Spacecraft....................................... Spacecraft....................................... Lander and Rover Spacecraft........... Spacecraft.................................. ....................... Observatory Spacecraft....................................... Spacecraft....................................... Penetrator Spacecraft and Impactors.......................... Manned Spacefl ight................... ight.......................................... ....................... Power Systems................. Systems......................................... ................................... ........... 56 Primary Energy Source................. Source........................................ ....................... Secondary Power Source................ Source....................................... ....................... Power Control and Distribution System........................ System........................ Thermal Control Systems............... Systems........................................ ........................... .. 62 Thermal Protection for Re-entry Vehicles..................... 3 Space Missions.............. Missions...................................... ....................................... ............... 66 Launch System................. System......................................... ................................... ........... 68 Launch Sites.................. Sites........................................... ............................... ...... Launch Windows................ Windows......................................... ............................... ...... Landing Sites................. Sites......................................... ................................... ........... 73 Earth Landing Sites................... Sites.......................................... ....................... Landing on Other Bodies in the Solar System.................. Emergency Systems................. Systems......................................... ............................... ....... 85 Launch Escape System.................. System......................................... ....................... Shuttle Emergency Egress System............... System.............................. ............... Shuttle Launch Abort.................. Abort......................................... ....................... In-fl ight Crew Escape System................................ System................................ Mission Operations............ Operations.................................... ................................... ........... 89 Testing and Pre-launch............ Pre-launch..................................... ........................... .. Launch........................................ Launch................ ....................................... ............... End of Life................... Life............................................ ............................... ...... Reliability................................... Reliability........... ....................................... ............... 4 Movement in Three Dimensions....................................... Dimensions....................................... 93 Orbits........................................ Orbits................ ........................................... ................... 94 Orbit Shape................... Shape............................................ ............................... ...... Types of Orbit................ Orbit......................................... ............................... ......

25 26

38 41

46 49 49 51 52 52 53 53 54 54 55 55 56 60 62 63

68 71 73 78 85 86 86 88 89 89 90 91

95 98

5

6

7

8

Lagrangian Points................................................103 Lagrangian Point 1 (L1)......................................103 Lagrangian Point 2 (L2)......................................104 Lagrangian Point 3 (L3)......................................105 Lagrangian Points 4 and 5 (L4 and L5)........................105 Getting into Orbit...............................................106 Changing Orbits..................................................106 Perturbations................................................107 Station-keeping..............................................107 Changing the Altitude or Shape of an Orbit...................108 Low Thrust Trajectory........................................111 Orbit Inclination Changes or Out-of-Plane Orbit Changes......112 Rendezvous and Intercept.....................................113 Interplanetary and Interstellar Trajectories.................114 Gravity Assist, Fly-by or Sling Shot.........................115 Ground Tracks....................................................118 Propulsion Systems.................................................124 Chemical Rocket Propulsion.......................................125 Solid Propellants or Rocket Motors...........................125 Liquid Propellants or Rocket Engines.........................129 Gelled Propellants...........................................135 Hybrid Propellants...........................................135 Cold Gas Propellants.........................................136 Electric Propulsion..............................................136 Electrothermal Systems.......................................137 Electrostatic Engines or Ion Drives..........................137 Electromagnetic or Magnetoplasma Engines.....................139 Nuclear Propulsion...............................................140 Nuclear Electric Rocket......................................140 Solar Thermal Propulsion (STP)...................................140 Other Forms of Propulsion........................................141 Navigation in Three Dimensions.....................................142 Coordinate Systems...............................................143 Locating Spacecraft..............................................148 Inertial Navigation..........................................149 Magnetometers................................................151 External References..........................................152 Earth-based Navigation and Tracking Systems..................157 Lunar and Interplanetary Systems.............................157 Time Dilation and Relativistic Effects...........................158 Communication......................................................160 Tracking, Telemetry and Command..................................160 Radiowave Communication......................................161 Ground Stations..............................................161 Spacecraft Systems...........................................163 Antennas, Transmitters and Receivers.........................163 Radio Blackout...............................................167 Radar........................................................171 Parcels to Space.................................................172 Parcels from Space...............................................173 Human Communications.............................................174 Radio and Video Links........................................176 Humans in Space....................................................178 Launch and Re-entry..............................................178 Acceleration.................................................178 Vibration and Sound..........................................182 Environmental Control and Life Support...........................183 Air Quality..................................................183 Pressure.....................................................184 Temperature..................................................186

Fire Suppression.............................................188 Water........................................................189 Radiation....................................................190 Meteoroid Strike and Space Debris............................193 Living in Space..................................................194 Freefall Effects.............................................194 Space Sickness...............................................197 Toilet.......................................................198 Ablutions....................................................203 Clothing.....................................................204 Sleep........................................................208 Psychological Effects........................................209 Food.........................................................210 Return to Earth..................................................216 9 Observing Satellites...............................................218 Catalogues of Objects in Space...................................221 International Identifi cation Number.........................222 Space Catalogue..............................................222 Natural Bodies...............................................223 Tracking Spacefaring Objects.....................................225 Optical......................................................226 Infrared Tracking............................................230 Radio........................................................230 Radar........................................................231 Deep Space...................................................232 Tracking from Space..........................................234 Amateur Tracking.................................................235 Optical......................................................235 Radio........................................................241 Radar........................................................244 10 Where to Go.......................................................245 The Sun..........................................................245 Planets and Their Satellites.....................................248 Mercury......................................................248 Venus........................................................253 Earth........................................................255 Mars.........................................................259 Jupiter......................................................263 Saturn.......................................................266 Uranus.......................................................269 Neptune......................................................271 Dwarf Planets....................................................272 Pluto........................................................273 Ceres........................................................274 Eris (2003 UB313)............................................274 Small Solar System Bodies........................................275 Asteroids....................................................275 Comets.......................................................277 11 The Future........................................................280 Commercial Space Flight..........................................281 Space Tourism................................................283 Future Propulsion Systems........................................286 Solar Sailing................................................286 Beam Sailing.................................................291 Tethers......................................................299 Space Elevators..............................................303 Space Fountain...............................................304 Sky Hooks....................................................305 Nuclear......................................................305 Magnetic Satellite Launch System or Magnetic Mass Drivers....307

The Distant Future...............................................308 Appendix A: Orbital Elements.........................................310 Inclination (i)..................................................310 Longitude of the Ascending Node (W)..............................311 Argument of Periapsis or Perigee (w).............................312 Eccentricity (e).................................................312 Semi-major Axis (a)..............................................313 Anomaly at Epoch (v).............................................313 Time of Periapsis or Perigee Passage (T).........................313 Appendix B: Coordinate Systems.......................................314 Geocentric Coordinate Systems....................................314 Heliocentric Coordinate Systems..................................314 Perifocal Coordinate System......................................314 Appendix C: Web Site Addresses.......................................316 Appendix D: Practical Information for Observing Satellites...........318 Two-Line Element (TLE) Sets......................................319 Positional Observations..........................................321 Flash Period Observations........................................323 Types of Refl ection.........................................323 Synodic Effect...............................................323 Measurement of Flash Period..................................324 Brightness Measurement...........................................325 Glossary.............................................................326 Bibliography.........................................................334 Index................................................................336