LAUNCH SYSTEMS
Col. John Keesee
5 September 2003
Outline
? Launch systems characteristics
? Launch systems selection process
? Spacecraft design envelope &
environments.
Lesson Objectives
? Each student will
? Understand launch system characteristics, sizing and
trade-offs.
? Estimate launch system sizes, staging requirements.
? Be able to select appropriate launch system for a given
mission from available systems.
? Be able to estimate spacecraft requirements driven by
launch vehicle induced environments.
? Determine costs of launch systems.
Rocket Basics
Thrust
Specific impulse
where K depends on J and the engine pressure ratio
)(
f
p
e
p
e
A
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V
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mF
M
c
T
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gm
F
Isp
{
m
e
V
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P
e
A
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f
p
Fuel in
Oxidizer in
Thrust
p
c
Throat
Rocket Equation
Where is the mass ratio
(Assumes zero losses due to drag and gravity)
tm
o
M
veh
Mg
veh
M
Ispm
veh
M
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a
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3
dm
dt
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dt
t
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3
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f
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nIspg
propellant
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