TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

flight path angle

Measured from the local horizontal to the velocityAccounting for the lifting forceAn object's increasing speed toward Earth's center, caused by the force of gravity (the force of attraction between two objects). More experienced by our 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 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 a […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

flight rules

Detailed procedures for normal and contingency operations that operators and engineers created during the mission designDesign is an intricate process involving reviewing constraints, identifying and characterizing the mission subject, deriving the 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 and orbital requirements, determining spacecraft mass, powerOrbiting spacecraft periodically pass through Earth’s shadow (enter eclipse). During these eclipse periods, the incident solar energy drops to zero, and the solar cells stop producing power. More and other detailed 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, identifying potential launch vehicles, deriving operations systems requirements and iterating. More, […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

flight spare

A backup spacecraft to the flight modelThe 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. More, built to launch if the flight modelThe spacecraft built to launch. […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

focus

Kepler’s First Law states that the orbitsThe study of the moving objects under the influence of gravityA projectile with a prescribed path that cannot be altered after it has burned its propellant and the laws of ballistics govern its course. When gravity is the only force on it, its path is elliptical. More from another body. Astrodynamicists 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 orbitsThe study of the moving objects under the influence of gravity from another body. Astrodynamicists design orbits and study how gravity affects them. More and study how gravity affects them. More of the planets are ellipses with the sunWe 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 […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

forward link

The connections that transmit data from a ground station through a relay satellite to the primary spacecraft.

TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

free fall

In orbitThe oval-shaped pathThe elliptical-shaped path a satellite takes in going from one circular orbit to another as part of a Hohmann Transfer. More that a spacecraft follows. OrbitsThe study of the moving objects under the influence of gravity from another body. Astrodynamicists design orbits and study how gravity affects them. More come in various shapes and sizes, but each one has a purpose: to let the spacecraft do its job. Higher orbitsThe study of the moving objects under the influence of gravity from another body. Astrodynamicists design orbits and study how gravity affects them. More require more propellantA type of rocket system that heats a propellant by passing it through a sustained electric arc, then ejects the energized gas through a nozzle. Its specific impulse is high compared to chemical rockets, but its thrust is very low. More to get a spacecraft there. More, spacecraft (and everything in them) are weightless when they have no contact forcesAny forceAn object's increasing speed toward Earth's center, caused by the force of gravity (the force of attraction between two objects). More on a […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

frequency

The number of waves that go by in one second.

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

frequency allocation

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that manages, among other issues, the geostationaryThis type of orbitThe oval-shaped path that a spacecraft follows. Orbits come in various shapes and sizes, but each one has a purpose: to let the spacecraft do its job. Higher orbits require more propellant to get a spacecraft there. More is circular with a period of about 24 hours and an inclinationDescribes the tilt of the orbital plane with respect to the fundamental plane. Has a range in values from 0 to 180. More of 0 degrees. It is particularly useful for communication satellites because a spacecraft in this orbitThe oval-shaped path that a spacecraft follows. Orbits come in various shapes and sizes, but each one has a purpose: to let the spacecraft do its job. Higher orbits require more propellant to get a spacecraft there. More appears motionless to an […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

fuel

The propellantA type of rocketA fluid-dynamics concept that says as low-velocity gases pass into the converging part of a nozzle, they accelerate to the speed of sound at the narrowest section (throat). Then, after they pass through the throat, they expand and accelerate to supersonic speeds. This principle is the basis for creating thrust in a thermodynamic rocket. More system that heats a propellantA type of rocket system that heats a propellant by passing it through a sustained electric arc, then ejects the energized gas through a nozzle. Its specific impulse is high compared to chemical rockets, but its thrust is very low. More by passing it through a sustained electricA type of rocket system that heats a propellant by passing it through a sustained electric arc, then ejects the energized gas through a nozzle. Its specific impulse is high compared to chemical rockets, but its thrust is very low. More arc, then ejects the energized gas through a nozzleA type of rocket system that heats a propellant by passing it through a sustained electric arc, then ejects the energized gas through a nozzle. Its specific impulse is high compared to chemical rockets, but its thrust is very low. More. Its specific impulseA type of rocket that creates thrust by accelerating ions in an electric or a magnetic field. Their low mass flow rate means their thrust is low, but their high-exit velocity means they are very efficient (high specific impulse). More is high compared to chemical rockets, but its thrustA type of rocket system that heats a propellant by passing it through a sustained electric arc, then ejects the energized gas through a nozzle. Its specific impulse is high compared to chemical rockets, but its thrust is very low. More is very low. More that combines with an oxidizerA type of chemical rocketA type of rocket that relies on the energy released from the chemical bonds of the propellant either by decomposition or combustion. More that combines two liquid […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

fuel cell

The source for Space Shuttle Orbiter electricity through the chemical reaction of cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen under pressure. The direct currentWe define 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,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 […]