Questions tagged [spacecraft]
Questions regarding the craft that house humans or equipment during space exploration.
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Minimum reentry velocity ideal for a spacecraft returning to Earth
During the return trip from Mars or Moon, SpaceX starship can refuel it's propellant tanks before reentry. It can use these propellants for reverse thrust to bring the spacecraft velocity to near idle ...
2
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1answer
23 views
spacecraft thermal dataset
For a high-school academic project, I would like to plot a graph of change in satellite's temperature over time.
Thus, (I think), I'm looking for real-time temperature data of sort of any (preferably ...
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0answers
90 views
Is it possible to build a starship out of clay?
I know it may sound silly but my consideration is to reduce costs due to the amount of metal used in standard space ships. Wood/bamboo for framing and clay around it, that is it for the hull.
I'm NOT ...
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1answer
195 views
When does a specific equipment at a certain temperature start to freeze in interstellar space?
This is my first post here. I'm working on a project which involves a number of problems and some parts of that are related to empty space and space exploration. I try to be focused and reflect one of ...
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2answers
2k views
Soyuz for Sale?
Reading through some stuff on the interwebs I came across some information saying that some old Soyuz Capsules are keep in a junkyard. Does anyone know if it's actually possible to purchase one of ...
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2answers
1k views
Encryption in radio system
We know that radio waves are used in communication with rockets, space crafts and satellites. Now, radio system basically consists of transmitter and receiver. If there is frequency match between ...
2
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1answer
135 views
How difficult to gravity assist brake on entry to Alpha Centauri system? [duplicate]
Say a generation ship arriving at Alpha Centauri A system wants to get into orbit (or land) on an exoplanet there. After decelerating for the 2nd half of the journey, their approach velocity is still ...
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1answer
58 views
Could an orbital launcher look like a scaled up Nike Hercules?
We now have flyable, recoverable suborbital boosters, which would be the first stage.
The second stage of the Saturn V rocket was able to hurl the 100 ton Skylab into an orbit over 250 miles high.
...
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2answers
9k views
What is the maximum speed an ion engine can propel a spacecraft at?
I read that with our current ion propulsion technology it is possible we could send a craft moving the maximum of 100km per second, or around 62 miles.
However we seem to be limited by how strong of a ...
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2answers
1k views
How are spacecraft engineered to prevent overheating?
Been reading about early space exploration again, especially Sputnik 2 (1957) and Venera 1 (1961). Both of these suffered from overheating.
It strikes me that a metal object will easily "absorb" the ...
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2answers
455 views
How was the Giotto spacecraft reactivated from hibernation mode?
The Wikipedia article on Giotto states that:
Giotto was the first spacecraft to be re-activated from hibernation mode.
How was the reactivation accomplished?
Does the statement mean the ...
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3answers
2k views
Why was the Delta Clipper cancelled?
The Delta Clipper (McDonnell Douglas DC-X) achieved vertical landing two decades before SpaceX's Falcon 9. And its cost was very low — only 60 million dollars.
Why was such an awesome rocket cancelled?...
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1answer
580 views
Cassini's main engines' burns “can be blow-down or pressurized (with Helium)” - why?
I just read that when Cassini makes it's first close pass of Saturn's F-ring on December 4, it will be the 183rd time the engine fires. I googled Cassini's engine and found this site which has a cool ...
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1answer
2k views
How does tank pressurization work?
I know the basic premise of tank pressurization. A inert gas (usually Helium) is kept in small tanks in or around the large propellant tanks, and when propellant is burned the helium fills the empty ...
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2answers
163 views
Are bicomplex numbers including tessarines ever used in spaceflight (as an alternative to quaternions)?
The answer to What are quaternions and how are they used to represent spacecraft dynamics? gives us a thorough overview of the topic and is worth a good read.
I saw the HNQ Why are quaternions more ...
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1answer
148 views
Could BNNTs be used for Whipple Shield designs?
BNNTs are a upcoming and promising nano-tube for space exploration. Featuring a young's modulus similar to diamond [1] and offering extensive radiation protection [2],
Could BNNTs be utilized in a ...
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2answers
68 views
Oberth Effect in Solar Sails: Where does the extra energy comes from?
Suppose, the reflectors of Solar Sails are opened for same amount of time at both periapsis and apoapsis. How does Oberth effect work in this case? Will Delta-V be same and hence change in Kinetic ...
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1answer
120 views
Are there any large satellite hardware suppliers for components or buses? (For CubeSats, SmallSats, Rovers, etc…)
I am looking for online catalogs of hardware either semi-COTS or full COTS (radios, antennas, thrusters, command and data handing boards, batteries, attitude control, etc...) that can be used in space ...
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3answers
633 views
Did the spacecrafts Galileo or Juno use the Galilean moons for a gravity assist before entering Jovian orbit?
Galileo and Juno are the only two spacecraft to have entered orbit around Jupiter.
Did either of them use one of the Galilean moons for a gravity brake before in order to enter a stable orbit around ...
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2answers
2k views
Is the software running on any existing or decommissioned space probes available for download?
I was wondering if it was possible to download the software that runs any of the computers on existing or decommissioned space probes, landers, etc.
For example, could one download the software that ...
3
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0answers
55 views
Future trends in Earth Observation and Communications from VLEO; are there any?
Question:
In order to better understand the wider market need and uses for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO)-enabling technologies, I'd like to ask about future trends in Earth observation imagery and ...
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2answers
715 views
How does a thermal control system of a spacecraft basicaly work?
I'd like to know how a thermal control system of a spacecraft basically works. As the only possibility to get rid of the thermal heat is through radiation, I'd like to get a basic qualitative ...
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1answer
173 views
Why are there no Mass Catchers?
When moving around in space you have to spend delta-v to accelerate and decelerate, which necessitates having an engine and control system. It would follow that a mass "catcher" would be a ...
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14answers
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Why are there no spacecraft rotating for artificial gravity?
Spacecraft rotating to generate artificial gravity through "centrifugal force" are commonplace in science fiction but not in reality. Considering the problems in long missions (among others: bone loss,...
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1answer
146 views
Why have we not seen spin gravity testing in space? Artificial gravity created through centrifugal/centripetal force [duplicate]
Why have I not seen any spin gravity testing in space? Or, more accurately, artificial gravity created through centrifugal/centripetal force. I haven't heard of any tests in standalone spacecraft or ...
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3answers
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Can you use magnets to travel through space?
My thought process is that there is very little friction in space minus gravitational pull. Which could be a good thing if you wanted to go faster or slow down. The question is, is it possible to ...
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3answers
136 views
How do spacecraft reach Lagrange points?
As I understand, to reach a Lagrange point the spacecraft would need to slow down. Also, can spacecraft passing nearby Lagrange points get captured within the point?
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0answers
34 views
Apollo LM explosive valves
Why were explosive valves used on the helium pressurization systems?
Are explosive valves also used on systems pressurized with Nitrogen?
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0answers
35 views
Trim controls for Apollo RCS systems?
Did any of the Apollo-era spacecraft have any method of trimming the RCS jets? Due to variable mass placement (fuel tanks and sublimators emptying, astronauts moving, item stowage, location of moon ...
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0answers
140 views
If the ISS went to the moon, what would fail first
If the ISS was propelled into an orbit (any orbit) around the moon, what would fail first?
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3answers
3k views
Do exploration spacecraft enter Mars atmosphere against Mars rotation, or on the same direction?
I can't find information on which side of mars do probes usually enter.
I suppose that probes do not enter perpendicular to the surface. They are usually represented as entering somewhat tangentially ...
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2answers
858 views
Spacecraft Maneuvers as Intellectual Property? Wow!
In the past I had encountered a few mentions of orbits being patented (or at least applications filed) but didn't take much notice. Then I did a simple search and was blown away by the sheer volume of ...
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3answers
1k views
How to move in space with just solar panels or without them?
What are the technologies known to humankind, to do propulsion in space, with a spacecraft having solar panels, when:
It is under ample solar flux?
It is interstellar under negligible solar flux?
...
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5answers
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Gliding into the atmosphere
The recent question about Cessna reentering from ISS got the answers that all imply a rapid drop.
But from what I know, air drag is proportional:
to square of airspeed
to air density
to attack ...
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0answers
202 views
Open source hardware at NASA
Given NASA has its open source software repository, I can not really find its open source hardware counterpart so I suppose such a thing does not exist. Is that true?
The 3D models site (GitHub mirror?...
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0answers
37 views
Hill approximation of the CRTBP (Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem) derivation
Dear fellow space enthusiasts,
Let us first consider the classical CRTBP equations of motion by defining the position vector of the spacecraft
\begin{equation}
\boldsymbol{r}=[x,y,z]^{T},
\end{...
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0answers
141 views
Most open source spaceflight missions revealed unintentionally
As of 2021 there are few fully open source satellites (OSSI-1, UPSat, FossaSat-1, Oresat, some more?) and numerous student groups building and documenting rockets. These projects are intended to be ...
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0answers
59 views
Why are rocket engines shaped like a bell rather than a gun barrel? [duplicate]
When blasting matter out of a spacecraft engine for thrust, it seems like you'd want as much velocity in one direction as possible. Why do spacecraft engines (e.g., Apollo CSM) have big bell-shaped ...
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4answers
3k views
What would be necessary in order for us to achieve a single stage to orbit, reusable rocket?
I have read articles and seen videos explaining why an SSTO (Single Stage To Orbit) rocket* is not possible. But I was wondering... What would be required to achieve this? Answers can be literally ...
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2answers
2k views
Is the UK's Skylon Project still going forward?
I have read a lot about Skylon which is a single stage to orbit concept space plane with a SABRE engine designed by the UK think tank Reaction Engines limited. However, in recent months it seems like ...
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2answers
104 views
For deep space missions, how thick must the water filled layer within the ship's hull be to effectively shield against cosmic rays? [closed]
Initially i proposed a 27cm thick barrier. But im not really sure thatll be enough
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1answer
5k views
How many successful Soyuz launches have there been?
From the first Soyuz to the launch vehicles used today, how many launches have been deemed successful?
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1answer
69 views
Largest variety of independent spacecraft types docked, clustered, or otherwise attached at the same time?
speculation and pondering in the Pod Bay has got me wondering; What has been the largest variety of independent spacecraft types simultaneously, docked, clustered or otherwise attached in space?
These ...
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1answer
106 views
Rocket dashboard: separation/pyro indicators
I'm curious about rocket dashboards. Separation events are big things and they depend on pyro bolts detonating and linear charges or pneumatic pushers firing immediately afterward. There must be ...
3
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1answer
69 views
NASA design handbooks and specifications
Does anybody know the designations, publication names, etc. for the design standards which NASA uses for space flight hardware? I’d like to add these resources into my engineering library.
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3answers
11k views
Why do exploration spacecraft like Voyager 1 and 2 go through the asteroid belt, and not over or below it?
I understand the risk of hitting an asteroid is small, but I'm wondering if there's a reason spacecraft usually stay on the main Solar System orbital plane.
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0answers
442 views
Can I become an astronaut by having bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering? [duplicate]
I have bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering. And thinking about learning masters degree in aerospace engineering. Will that help me in becoming an astronaut?
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Why do we travel on an elliptical path towards Mars? [duplicate]
A typical rocket path to Mars is shown below:
Why can’t we just cut diagonally through instead of travelling over a long elliptical path? Sort of like this:
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3answers
3k views
Can we destroy an asteroid by spinning it?
In a YouTube video Colonizing the Solar System, part 2: the Outer Solar System, Isaac Arthur who is a YouTuber and also a physicist says something like "you don't spin an asteroid for artificial ...
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2answers
125 views
What's the fastest orbital period for a spacecraft?
I'm not asking about velocity, I'm talking about overall speed. Shortest time from perigee to perigee. This orbit would be a low, circular orbit, but I can't really find any specifics on any world ...
