TSTI Admin No Comments April 2, 2026

external tank

A launch vehicle’s huge propellant-storage container that holds cryogenicPropellants stored at temperatures far below 0° C. Because liquids store in less volumeThe amount of air within a certain volume. Atmospheric density is higher at sea-level and decreases as you go up in altitude. More than gases, we use special cooling systems and high pressureA type of chemical rocket that combines two liquid propellants (a fuel and an oxidizer) that burn under pressure in a combustion chamber to create a hot and pressurized exhaust that converts to thrust in the nozzle. More to keep some propellants liquefied. Liquid hydrogen (H2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) are two examples. More oxygen and hydrogen for the launch vehicleA […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

fatigue

Vibrations have the same effect we see if we bend a piece of metal back and forth many times even if we don’t deform it much. Eventually, it breaks due to fatigueVibrations have the same effect we see if we bend a piece of metal back and forth many times even if we don’t deform […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The U.S. government’s agency that manages radio frequencyThe number of waves that go by in one second. More allocations for all operations over the U.S. territory. Satellite companies must apply to the FCC for permission to use all of the radio frequencies they need for their space mission.

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

field of regard

The angleWe use the angle of incidenceWe use the angle of incidence, θ, to determine how much solar energy hits a solar panel. This angle lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the Sun line. More, θ, to determine how much solarWe use the angle of incidence, θ, to determine how much solar energy hits a solar panel. This angle lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the Sun line. More energyWe use the angle of incidence, θ, to determine how much solar energy hits a solar panel. This angle lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the Sun line. More hits a solarWe use the angle of incidence, θ, to determine how much solar energy hits a solar panel. This angle lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the Sun line. More panelWe use the angle of incidence, θ, to determine how much solar energy hits a solar panel. This angle lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the Sun line. More. This angleWe use the angle of incidence, θ, to determine how much solar energy hits a solar panel. This angle lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the Sun line. More lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the SunWe use the angle of incidence, θ, to determine how much solar energy hits a solar panel. This angle lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the Sun line. More line. More that describes the potential cone of visibility for a satellite or sensor limited by geometric constraints (e.g. edge of radio horizon).

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

field-of-view

The cone of visibility from a spacecraft to the object it’s viewing. For remote-sensing spacecraft, the size of the field-of-viewThe cone of visibility from a spacecraft to the object it’s viewing. For remote-sensing spacecraft, the size of the field-of-viewThe cone of visibility from a spacecraft to the object it’s viewing. For remote-sensing spacecraft, the size of the field-of-view is critical to collecting the correct images. It depends on the camera’s (sensors) optics and is set while designing and manufacturing the camera (sensor). More is critical to collecting the correct images. It depends on the camera’s (sensors) optics and is […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

flash evaporator

A thermal-control device that passes a fluidA method to maintain a spacecraft’s internal temperatureA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More using a closed-loop control systemAn assembly of devices that receive inputs, decide to change the plant conditions, act to change the plant, measure the plant outputs, and adjust the inputs to improve the outputs. More to measure currentWe define current,i, as the rate at which charges flow through a given area, such as the cross section of a wire. The unit for current is amperes (amps), which equals the charges flowing per second. More temperatureA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flowA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More. It requires a working fluidA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More, heaters, pumps, or other mechanicalA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More devices. More next to a hot component to convect some heat, and then dumps […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

Flight Control

Tracking a spacecraft’s or launch vehicle’s position and velocityAccounting for the lifting force experienced by our re-entry vehicle allows us to stretch the size of the corridor and allow a greater margin of error in re-entryThe reference frame used to analyze a space vehicle’s motion after leaving orbit until it lands. Its origin is at the vehicle’s center of mass at the beginning of re-entry. More velocityAccounting for the lifting force experienced by our re-entry vehicle allows us to stretch the size of the corridor and allow a greater margin of error in re-entry velocity or angle. If our vehicle is capable of controlling lift, our entry accuracy is greater than that of a strictly ballistic approach. The Space Shuttle is a great example of a lifting re-entry vehicle. More or angleWe use the angle of incidence, θ, to determine how much solar energy hits a solar panel. This angle lies between a line perpendicular to the cell and the Sun line. More. If our vehicle is capable of controlling liftAccounting for the lifting force experienced by our re-entry vehicle allows us to stretch the size of the corridor and allow a greater margin of error in re-entry velocity or angle. If our vehicle is capable of controlling lift, our entry accuracy is greater than that of a strictly ballistic approach. The Space Shuttle is a great example of a lifting re-entry vehicle. More, our entry accuracyThis type of spacecraft attitude control uses actuators which require continuous feedback and adjustment. This type of attitude control typically provides greater accuracy. More is greater than that of […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

flight controllers

Members of a mission-operations team that operateThe subsystems’ designDesign is an intricate process involving reviewing constraints, identifying and characterizing the mission subject, deriving the payload and orbital requirements, determining spacecraft mass, power and other detailed design requirements, identifying potential launch vehicles, deriving operations systems requirements and iterating. More requirements within which they will function smoothly. For example, a payloadAn assembly of spacecraft components that collect, process, store, and transmit payload-mission and bus-housekeeping data. The communication and data-handling subsystem (CDHS) acts as the ears, brain, and mouth of the spacecraft • It has two primary portions — communication and data handling • It translates raw data from the payloads and subsystems into useful information and sends it to the ground system • Commands from ground controllers generally request information from and give specific instructions to individual subsystems More sensor may operateThe subsystems' design requirements within which they will function smoothly. For example, a payload sensor may operate best between 0° and 50° C, only. More best between 0° and 50° C, only. More a space mission. They work at the control centerThe command authority that directs the spacecraft and all other elements of the network. It can […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

flight director

Also, mission director. The lead mission operator. The flight directorAlso, mission director. The lead mission operator. The flight director orchestrates all activities that result in mission success: getting mission data to the customers. More orchestrates all activities that result in mission success: getting mission data to the customers.

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

flight model

The spacecraft built to launch. It goes through acceptance tests, but not the tests that might damage it. The manufacturer ships it to the launch site after the engineering and testing models pass their checks and tests.