Spacecraft Flashcards

1
Q

How can we categories spacecraft?

A

Orbital
Sub-orbital
interstellar
interplanetary

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2
Q

Give 4 examples of spacecraft missions/payloads?

A

Communications
earth observation
navigation
weather

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3
Q

What are the 5 phases that constitute a complete spacecraft mission?

A
Pre-Launch
launch
orbit transfer
on-station operations
decommissioning
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4
Q

How is the karman line defined

A

Boundary layer between earths atmosphere and outer space

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5
Q

Why is the launch window important?

A

To ensure that spacecraft meets its desired location in orbit

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6
Q

What is the duration of a geostationary orbit and what effect does this have on the spacecraft motion?

A

24hrs. Spacecraft in fixed position relative to surface of earth

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7
Q

What characterises the spacecraft motion in a low earth orbit?

A

Spacecraft moves with respect toe arts surface

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8
Q

What are the advantages of LEO

A

Simplest and cheapest orbit, high bandwidth and low communication time delay, see Earth’s surface more clearly.

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9
Q

What is the rocket equation?

A

deltaV = Vex*ln(m0/m1)

delta V - change in rocket speed
Vex - Escape velocity
Mo - initial mass of rocket including propellant
m1 - final mass of rocket after propellant has burnt

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10
Q

What assumption do we make about the propellant burns in the rocket equation?

A

impulsive burning of propellant

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