Questions tagged [launch]
Questions regarding the takeoff or the liftoff phase of the flight of a rocket and the set of activities required for preparation of the launch vehicle leading to it.
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Can an orbital rocket have an airplane first stage? [duplicate]
The first stage of SpaceX's Nov 18 Starship launch was the Super Heavy. According to the Wikipedia page, it packs 3,400 tones of fuel. In the launch video, it shows the rocket reaches 27 km of ...
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Is mandatory to coat SLV fairing with anti static paint, please? [closed]
What type of surface coatings are required for payload fairing? Fairing
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Do larger rockets tend to have a better mass ratio due to the square cube law?
Do larger rockets tend to have a better mass ratio due to the square cube law? I mean, larger tanks have a better surface-to-volume ratio, so their weight-to-volume should be improved
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How can I know which direction a launch will be?
I'm in SOUTH FLORIDA and try to watch all the launches from here. Sometimes, the rocket seems to head south and come right overhead. How can I tell what direction a launch will take? Thank you. M
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What orbital inclination of a HAVOC mothership would optimize the success of an abort-to-orbit?
In Phase 3 of NASA’s HAVOC proposed mission for a buoyant probe to the Venusian atmosphere, a crewed atmospheric probe de-orbits from an orbiting mothership. The probe is a solar-electric propelled ...
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Energy Needed for Lunar Lander to Ascend?
Is it possible to calculate how much energy was expended when the Apollo 11 lunar lander ascended from the Moon's surface to join the Command Module in lunar orbit?
Many relevant parameters for the ...
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In theory, could this redesign of the launch profile reduce fuel use? [duplicate]
This is a purely theoretical question, because I suspect that trying to build a launch system of this sort would pose its own set of very complex problems.
That said, the Wikipedia page for the ...
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Higher density medium tube from sea level to space for travel
Is it theoretically possible to build a strong sealed tube from Earth's sea level all the way to Space, fill it with a medium (such as water) that has a higher density than humans. And then humans ...
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Is the rocket exhaust plume at liftoff of a liquid fuled rocket cold? Can it condense? [duplicate]
I try to understand what the exhaust cloud on the ground from the start of Starship consists of.
Of course it was unusually mineral-rich, but I try to understand whether we saw much else, apart from ...
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Was the exhaust cloud at the Starship launch mostly pulverized launchpad?
The launch of Spacex Starship on April 20 2023 looked pretty normal on first sight, apart from some engines not running, and some concrete flying around.
The huge exhaust cloud looked normal, because ...
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Has the cause of a rocket failure ever been mis-identified, such that another launch failed due to the same problem?
When a rocket launch fails, typically launches for that rocket type are halted while an investigation takes place to identify and correct the root cause of the failure. However, it is possible that ...
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Why didn't SpaceX scrub the 4/20 Starship launch when they saw the launch pad being shredded?
While Starship took to the skies on its maiden flight, the slow build of power started to devastate the launch pad (or Stage Zero as SpaceX refers to it) and surrounding area with debris. Though ...
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Why was the launchpad not destroyed during Super Heavy test firings?
It's becoming clear now that the 4/20 launch devastated the launchpad, leaving a massive crater and flinging debris - perhaps into the booster itself.
But why did this not happen during test firings ...
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Were Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket engines damaged on impact?
Were Rocket Lab’s Electron Mission 26 rocket engines damaged on impact?
The photo of the recovered Electron Rocket https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/05/rocket-lab-catches-a-1-ton-booster-falling-...
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Why did the maiden flight of H3 fail?
Recently, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) finally launched the ALOS-3 (Advanced Land Observing Satellite-3) after more than 2 years of delay. On then all seemed to be going well on the first ...
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Why do the Falcon 9 fairings have soot on them?
On nearly every SpaceX webcast since 2020 they explain that the Falcon 9 booster has soot on it because, during the entry burn, it flies through its own exhaust plume very quickly depositing the ...
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How can you make a rocket quieter?
Usually during a rocket launch on Earth, lots of water is poured to decrease the sound (deluge discussed in Wikipedia's Sound suppression system) and some other methods are used.
What I am looking for ...
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What caused the H3 rocket to squeal so loudly after its launch abort?
Immediately after the H3 rocket's first launch attempt was aborted, a loud squealing noise could be heard on the live stream. What was this?
The only thing I could find about it when searching the ...
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Is using a variable Isp (constant power & acceleration) more efficient than a constant Isp when launching?
So after I wrote a particularly poorly received answer about variable specific impulse, based on discussion I read here, I realise I may have misinterpreted what was being discussed in that thread. ...
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Is the launch of a rocket slow because the change in velocity (delta_v) should be as small as possible because of energetic reasons?
Does it make sense to keep the launch of a rocket slow because the change in velocity (a.k.a. delta_v) should be as small as possible because of energetic reasons?
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Does the payload capacity of an interplanetary launch rocket increase with decreasing fuel mass or with increasing escape velocity?
Does the payload capacity of an interplanetary launch rocket increase with decreasing fuel mass or with increasing escape velocity? I was thinking that the escape velocity has nothing to do with it ...
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Are most launches for science missions?
Are most space missions launched for scientific purposes?
I had thought so, but during a group discussion, someone suggested most are actually for commercial purposes. Are they correct?
Thanks!
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How much of a rocket energy is needed to overcome aerodynamic drag?
this question
How much of a rocket's energy is used to achieve altitude vs horizontal velocity? addresses the energy split of kinetic vs. potential energy to get to space - and to stay there.
We ...
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What did I see in the SpaceX Starlink launch stream 12/17/2022
I was wondering. I just watched the Starlink launch from 12/17/2022 (Starlink Group 4-37).
At about +3:53 into the launch, on the first stage re-entry, there was a weird anomaly, which kinda looked ...
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Falcon Heavy will launch Europa Clipper - are details available for public?
NASA Europa Clipper spacecraft will be launched by Falcon Heavy launcher.
But very small amount of details can be found, to my surprise.
For example, I've been guessing will additional solid-fuel kick ...
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HTOL vs VTOL first stages
For a generic launch vehicle, would Horizontal Take off be better than VTOL like most orbital launch vehicles?
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What is the reason for the short-duration cutouts in the Artemis I launch window?
Near the end of the hold at T-10 the announcer noted that, in determining a new T0, the launch team had to consider "various cutouts in the launch window, varying from 1 seconds up to a minute&...
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Where do the separated stages of ISRO Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) end up?
ISRO Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) is a three stage launch vehicle:
First stage – S200 Boosters
Second stage – L110
Third stage – C25
Where do each of these stages end up after a launch?
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What does a flight path angle of zero degrees mean at launch?
Total beginner here so please be gentle. I'm looking at the Apollo 11 flight path angle plot from Apollo Saturn V Postflight Trajectory AS 506 which shows a zero degree angle at launch.
Isn't path ...
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What is this thing that goes zipping past the Electron launch?
Watching the Electron launch 07 October 2022 on https://www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream, what do I see in the video at T + 9:12, just after they confirm secondary engine cut off?
I thought it was a ...
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Are the Raptor engines too numerous and close together on Booster 7?
SpaceX is in the process of scaling up their highly successful re-usable Falcon first stage to a much larger version with more powerful engines for their Starship program.
These new Raptor engines ...
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In the event of SRB ignition failure, could jettison of the other “lit” SRB prevent catastrophe?
Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) are popular launch boosters, used on the Space Shuttle, Ariane 5, Atlas V and SLV.
However, SRBs have a number of failure modes, most of which result in catastrophe.
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What is the Criteria of Technology Readiness Level 9?
On NASA website it says to get TRL 9 the technology must be flight proven, now, to be "flight proven" is there any specific criteria for that? like a defined amount of time of functioning, ...
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How to Get Space Heritage for a Component
If a developed electronics/board/chip/etc. wanted to have a space/flight heritage, is there any typical way to get that?
Edit:
As some mentioned I was not clear, I'm talking from a manufacturer point ...
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Control used during orbital insertion?
Which control is usually active during the orbital insertion phase of launch vehicles? Once the velocity requirement for orbital insertion is met, engine is switched off RCS usually takes care of ...
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Horizontal vs Vertical Takeoff
What is the reason that some space planes take off with the help of a rocket and others take off with nothing but their own engines. For example the X-37 uses an additional rocket while the VSS Unity ...
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Why aren't clusters of F-15 or SR-71 engines used for a boost stage for rockets? [duplicate]
A cluster of say 8 F-15 or SR-71 engines in my mind could make a viable first stage for a small rocket. Second they can land the stage back to the ground and if my guess is right they could go to up ...
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Reaction control system testing
How are RCS (reaction control systems) for Launch vehicles usually tested?
After going through some literatures, I came across two different testing schemes,
Leans more towards testing the Cold gas ...
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How does US crewed launch abort coverage "jump" the ocean in an instant?
As I understand things, the Commercial Crew Program stipulates full abort coverage from pad to orbit. An abort to the middle of the Atlantic ocean is understandably not acceptable.
Watching the OFT-2 ...
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Are nozzle plugs taken out before launch or are they ejected upon ignition?
Inspired by this question. For most orbital launch vehicles, do their engines have nozzle plugs installed and what happen to them at launch? Are they manually removed during the prelaunch/rollout or ...
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Can something like SpinLaunch actually work?
Can something like SpinLaunch actually work?
It appears that Spinlaunch attempts to accelerate a capsule to very high speeds and then basically throw it into space.
A regular rocket is moving slowest ...
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Could we launch from the moon to another planetary body? [closed]
Would it be possible with currently rocket technology or technology towards the end of its development (ex. SLS, Starship, New Glenn, etc.) to launch from the moon. Of course, we would send down a ...
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Can we launch from the moon?
Would it be possible with currently rocket technology or technology towards the end of its development (ex. SLS, Starship, New Glenn, etc.) to launch from the moon. Of course, we would send down a ...
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Why did the "Running out of Toes" mission fail?
On May 15, 2021, Rocket Lab's Electron failed in the "Running Out of Toes" mission. The first stage had a nominal flight. Then, from looking at the launch video published by Rocket Lab, the ...
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Why did the Hyperbola-1 launch fail in February 2021?
There is no launch video and very little data published about the launch. Considering how the maiden flight was successful, and it does appear that they made any design changes, what went wrong? Why ...
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Spinlaunch Safety
How could the Spinlaunch concept ever be made so that, in the event of an anomaly where it is released at the wrong angle, it wouldn't obliterate a small town or city center?
Launch sites at Cape ...
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What is the purpose of having a planned hold during a countdown for a rocket launch? [duplicate]
NASA had many with the space shuttle, ULA always had a planned hold at T-4 minutes, and yet other launch providers like SpaceX don't. What is the purpose of a planned hold, and why do some launchers ...
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Do the maximum launch capability figures of Falcon Heavy includes payload adaptor fairings or launch vehicle adaptors?
I would like to learn if stated payload capabilities of Falcon Heavy includes PAF. According to Falcon User's Guide, SpaceX has two different PAF for Falcon 9. In the said document, smaller PAF doesn'...
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Insights about launch vehicle engine configuration
When dealing with launch vehicles (specifically heavy lifters), there have been a number of different mindsets in terms of engines. The Saturn V used some absolutely massive engines, which was great ...
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How much energy would be required to launch a 10km x 10km x 10km cube into LEO?
I know this is a bit of a ridiculous scenario, I am just looking for a very conservative estimate as to how much force would be required to get something orders of magnitude bigger and more awkard ...
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