Modern Rocketry Flashcards
Newton’s first law
An object at rest stays at rest unless acted on by an outside force (same for motion)
Newton’s second law
The rate of change in momentum is is equal to the force acting on the object and its direction (Force equals mass times acceleration, F = ma)
Newton’s third law
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
Define ‘Acceleration’
The rate of change in velocity relative to time
Define ‘Inertia’
The tendency of an object at rest to stay at rest (same for motion)
Define ‘Thrust’
To force or push, the amount of force used to get a rocket traveling upwards
Four major systems of a rocket
Airframe, guidance, control, propulsion
Define ‘Payload’
What the rocket is carrying
The purpose of the airframe is __________
To provide shape and protect the internal systems of the rocket. The rocket’s skin and skeleton.
The purpose of the guidance system is __________
To tell the rocket where to go, the rocket’s brain
The purpose of the control system is __________
To take the info from the guidance system and use it to direct the rocket, controls the vanes and moveable fins
The purpose of the propulsion system is __________
To propel the rocket, consists of everything used to propel the rocket
New rocket launch vehicles
Vulcan Centaur - evolved from the Altas V; Starship - SpaceX; New Glenn - SpaceX; New Sheppard - Blue Origin; Omega - Northrop Grumman; Space Launch System - NASA
Parts of the Space Launch System
Orbiter (shuttle), solid rocket boosters, external tank
