Questions about how space vehicles and related hardware are designed.
5
votes
1answer
112 views
What are some practices Space Exploration that are no longer acceptable?
I'm sure that for every good idea that made it into a spaceship design, there had to be plenty of bad ideas. There's most likely a bunch of old designs (or practices) that passed previously, but would ...
1
vote
3answers
115 views
3D Printing Rocket Parts
The Rutherford Rocket engine is a 3D printed battery powered engine. While the engine is made for small rockets, is it possible to use elements of 3D printing and battery power for launches of bigger ...
0
votes
2answers
118 views
Is it true that hydrogen is the only practical fuel for upper stages?
Consider this quote about early designs for the Saturn upper stages:
Formalized as Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) on February 7, 1958, the group examined the DoD launcher requirements and ...
6
votes
1answer
82 views
Is there internal diagram of Zvezda or information about the internal size of Zvezda?
I found a diagram of Zvezda showing the external features, but I can't find one showing the internal features. Does an easily obtainable diagram exist?
2
votes
0answers
64 views
Optimal Thruster Layout For Cubesat
I am working on a simulation of a Cubesat for rendezvous. Using the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations I calculate delta-v. Now that I know the thrust needed for operation, I would like to know how to ...
3
votes
0answers
88 views
How would the antenna on a spacecraft in GEO be provided an electrical ground?
I would like to understand better what specifications or guidelines address the electrical grounding/Earthing a parabolic reflector Antenna in GEO to minimize the potential difference with respect to ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Could the interaction of the Sun’s solar wind and trapped plasma ions be used to propel a rocket through interplanetary space?
I have recently had a renewed interest in comets and how comet tails are formed. From studying this process, a thought occurred to me that perhaps plasma ions can be created within a long hollow ...
4
votes
1answer
151 views
Generating power in zero-g
When generating electricity, energy is lost to friction in mechanical bearings (e.g. turbine or generator bearings) and as heat, through resistance in transmission wires.
If you were generating ...
10
votes
1answer
408 views
How does a space probe differ from a satellite in terms of materials used and size?
Both of those space vehicles are meant to carry out different tasks. How are materials selected for both of them such that it benefits their task? And is size a debatable factor while building these ...
29
votes
4answers
4k views
When did the concept of “stages” enter rocketry?
The staged rocket design is common now, but at some point in the history of rocket design it must have been revolutionary.
When was the staged design introduced? Was it quickly accepted or did it ...
0
votes
2answers
101 views
Shock absorbing alternator possible for a rover?
Could replacing a Rovers struts (maybe a faster one that uses shock dampers in the future) with magnets similar to a shack flashlight but more heavier duty work well for recouping energy from movement ...
7
votes
1answer
269 views
What is the function of this array of what looks like mirrors on TESS?
The Mashable.com article TESS is about to become your new favorite NASA mission shows a beautiful photo of the TESS spacecraft in a state that looks like it is nearly ready to launch.
There is a ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Why are centrifuges not used on the space station? [duplicate]
The low tech county fair ride in the picture below is a centrifuge. How difficult would it be to send modified one like this picture to space?
It could spin on non bearing engine indefinably to ...
0
votes
3answers
206 views
What is currently used to protect spaceships from meteoroids?
What is used to protect a Mars or possibly interstellar spacecraft against meteoroids and asteroids?
How risky it it to travel through space and does higher speeds equal more risk?
Would a long ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Earthing system in space?
On Earth, we have a good reason to deploy electric devices with an "Earthing system": this helps to avoid dangerous leak currents on surfaces.
Now how is this solved on a spacecraft?
1
vote
1answer
165 views
Would a rotating wheel spacecraft “flip”?
I am looking over some proposed rotating spacecraft such as the Nautilus-X and the Ares from the movie The Martian as well as much more fictional ones such as from the Jovian Chronicles and even Halo.
...
29
votes
6answers
7k views
Do spacecraft ever release unneeded gases into space?
My child is learning about the human body and frequently wants to know whether his favorite things work the same way. He asked me if spaceships fart (we've talked about Firetrucks and tailpipes, to ...
6
votes
1answer
154 views
How spacecrafts are built e.g. Dragon, Orion, etc?
What materials are using to build nowadays spacecraft? What kind of joints of main structure is used - is it a welding, riveting or something else?
Where can I find such informations? Any books, ...
21
votes
1answer
3k views
Why does the ISS cupola have Interior Protective Sliding Windows
As shown in the center right part of the picture, the International Space Station cupola has an interior sliding window frame, maybe detachable, such as cameras among other instrumentation.
Note that ...
-1
votes
1answer
141 views
What matters are kept secret in space companies? [closed]
I already googled blueprint of rockets, I came to know that US space companies revealing their "blueprint of rockets".
But still are there any matters kept secret in space companies?
7
votes
1answer
206 views
Why were individual shuttle tiles changed from white to black or black to white?
The Paper Space Scale Models website has a PDF which details changes to the STS Orbiter Markings on a per-mission basis.
Most of the changes are in the tiles. It can be seen that often a single black ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Where are cameras mounted on the 'Starman' payload of today's F-H launch?
Where are the cameras on the Starman mounted? I see it (the entire payload) is a small engine with the roadster mounted on top of it. There are camera shots of the nozzle of the payload, of the ...
16
votes
2answers
483 views
Where does the thrust act in a rocket engine and how is it transferred to rocket structure?
A rocket engine is basically a device that generates a high pressure inside the chamber and the pressure difference creates a force.
A nozzle helps in effectively accelerating the flow and increases ...
5
votes
1answer
595 views
Would a hex-cluster of SpaceX boosters around a central booster lift a large payload into space?
I'm sure it's possible, but would it be wise to place a hex-cluster of SpaceX boosters around a central booster to get a very large payload, or one going to a very high orbit, into space? Maybe even ...
6
votes
1answer
169 views
Did a fuel tank ruptured by a ballpoint pen really sever an engineers finger?
In Ars' series on the Apollo program Eric tells a story about the Lunar Module from NASA lore...
...recounted in Apollo: The Race to the Moon, a technician working with a test version of the ...
26
votes
2answers
5k views
Why did SpaceX retire Falcon 1?
Why did SpaceX retire Falcon 1? Wouldn't it have been more cost effective then Falcon 9 for lighter missions?
4
votes
1answer
183 views
Was computer aided design used on the Space Shuttle Program?
With the Space Shuttle system being as complex as it was I was wondering the following; did the initial engineering teams in the 70's use any form of CAD/CAE or did they simply utilize the same ...
6
votes
0answers
107 views
Advantages of a Solid Fueled Upper Stage
I was recently looking at the specs of the Antares launch vehicle and I was surprised to find out that they were using a solid fueled motor as their upper stage.
I've always learned that in the upper ...
25
votes
1answer
5k views
Falcon 9 design: Why is the cargo fairing so much wider than the lower parts?
Why does the cargo fairing have a much larger diameter than the lower part of the rocket?
Of course a larger diameter lets thicker payloads fit. But then the first, inter, and second stage could have ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
What is the mechanism principle of the grid fins in F9? [duplicate]
What is the mechanism principle of the grid fins in F9?
or how to design the mechanism for the electricity grid fins?
or how to design a electricity folding wing like the grid fins in F9?
2
votes
2answers
163 views
How plausible is an upper stage with minimal/no avionics and RCS?
How plausible would it be to build and use an upper stage with little to no avionics and RCS, just an engine and fuel tanks? Would it be possible to use a satellite's/probe's RCS and guidance for the ...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
Orbit Design Process
Do orbit design/mission analysis have equivalent documentation to the Preliminary/Critical Design Reviews you would use in systems engineering?
0
votes
1answer
159 views
Why do the solar panels on the seven Sentinel configurations look so completely different from each other?
I understant that these six different Earth-observing satellite platforms measure and image Earth data differenty, but there is just such a wide variety of different ways to build solar panels and ...
28
votes
2answers
6k views
What is the “emergency crush core”?
In his tweet Elon Musk said: "Rocket is extra toasty and hit the deck hard (used almost all of the emergency crush core)"
What is he talking about?
6
votes
2answers
843 views
Approximate sizes and relative positions of the ISS' cupola windows?
I have an idea for a cool Earth-pointing amateur experiment that could be done through the cupola windows of the ISS. All of them. It would be simple (and not look like the first photo below).
Are ...
3
votes
1answer
305 views
ViaSat's 18 kW solar array - largest ever for a commercial telecom satellite?
Now that the protests at Kourou Space Center in French Guiana are over, Arianne has launched both EutelSat 172B and ViaSat-2 as 2017-029A. While EutelSat 172B has a ...
4
votes
2answers
501 views
If not constrained by underpasses, etc., would Falcon 9 have been less of a flying noodle?
This excellent answer to the question Why is Falcon 9's shape so tall and skinny? mentions California, Florida, Texas and Alabama, within and between-which there must be at least a few limiting ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Why was SpaceWire designed with nine wires?
I just learned about SpaceWire in this great answer about the slip-ring rotating electrical connection between its solar panel and attached sun-pointing instrumentation, and the body of the craft with ...
7
votes
2answers
485 views
What are these very large, square panels on Inmarsat 5's?
Question: What are these very large square panels on Inmarsat 5's? They seem to each have an extremely reflective mirror-like flat/smooth tiled-appearing side, and a nearly black side with a lot of ...
3
votes
1answer
245 views
to measure velocity of sounding rocket
How to measure velocity of sounding rocket?? is using a pitot tube an efficient way to measure and how exactly to measure speed of sounding rocket using a pitot tube ???are there any other method to ...
6
votes
0answers
138 views
Were solar concentrators on HS-702 just a stop-gap measure until triple-junction PV cells were available?
According to Gunter's Space Page discussion of early versions of the Hughes HS-702 Bus:
The first version of the 702 used solar arrays with concentrators. These concentrators tended to early ...
1
vote
2answers
191 views
Why are deeper folds better for absorption?
The NASA News item NASA’s New Shape-Shifting Radiator Inspired by Origami describes a technique for spacecraft temperature regulation combining both a shape-changing surface and an emissivity-changing ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
Why didn't the space shuttle SRBs have wings and tires?
Why didn't the space shuttle solid rocket boosters have wings and tires to land the same way the orbiter lands? I don't think they haven't thought of that so there must be something that led them not ...
3
votes
1answer
480 views
Why does “Tim Peake's capsule” look like it's copper now?
What are these capsules made of?
This is the Expedition 47 return capsule that brought Astronauts Yuri Malenchenko, Timothy Peake, and Timothy Kopra back to Earth.
According to IFL Science!:
The ...
5
votes
2answers
319 views
MetOp-A; Why this unusual solar panel shape and deployment method?
This solar panel is closer to square than most solar panels I've seen, which tend to be very long - length/width ratio perhaps 4 to 6. This looks like only 1.5, and it seems to be located at the end ...
8
votes
1answer
644 views
Just how much can tall skinny rockets bend? (roughly, safely)
Below is a GIF I prepared and used in an earlier question, and the answer seems quite reasonable. With a height to diameter ratio of about 70 m to 3.7 m (nearly 20:1) a weight-conscious design, ...
0
votes
0answers
138 views
How did the Stabilo crewed re-entry vehicle work? A tractor engine with four nozzles?
ARCA Space's webpage for the Stabilo program has a description and an image. Hydrogen peroxide monopropellant? Reaction closer to the crew than the nozzle?
With thrust at the top, it seems that ...
4
votes
1answer
545 views
Cubesat Space Protocol and AX.25
Are there any good sources to understand how to use Cubesat Space Protocol (CSP) and AX.25? I am supposed to use them for the network in an MSP430 microcontroller between a transceiver (which has an ...
4
votes
3answers
483 views
Could a “modern” N-1 rocket be successfully created and flown? [closed]
As we know, during the Space Race, the United States and the Soviet Union were in fierce competition. Each trying to best the other by creating their idea of a moon rocket. While the United States's ...
8
votes
3answers
351 views
How well can hybrid motors be throttled?
Pretty self explanatory: down to what percentage can hybrid rocket engines be throttled to? And what fuel / oxidiser combinations allow for the greatest throttling?
I'm planning on using hybrids for ...
