TSTI Admin No Comments October 8, 2024

gravity assist

A method using a planet’s gravityA projectileA 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 with a prescribed pathThe elliptical-shaped path a satellite takes in going from one circular orbit to another as part of a Hohmann Transfer. More that cannot be altered after it has burned its 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 and the laws of ballistics govern its course. When 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 is the only forceAn object's increasing speed toward Earth's center, caused by the force of gravity (the force of attraction between two objects). More on it, its pathThe elliptical-shaped path a satellite takes in going from one circular orbit to another as part of a Hohmann Transfer. More is elliptical. More and orbital 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 […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 10, 2026

gravity turn

During phase three of launch vehicleA rocket that takes 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 into 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. Launch vehicles contain huge amounts of propellant that they must burn to accelerateA 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 through the atmosphereThe 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 and into space. There, they drop off their 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. The Falcon 9, Space Launch System, Space Shuttle (retired), Ariane V, Atlas V, Delta IV, and Pegasus […]

TSTI Admin No Comments June 20, 2024

heating

A limitation of re-entryThe reference frameThe 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 used to analyze a space vehicle’s motion after leaving 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 until it lands. Its originDefines a physically identifiable starting point for the coordinate system. More is at the vehicle’s center of mass at the beginning of 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. More. Caused by frictionA limitation of 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. Caused by frictionA limitation of re-entry. Caused by friction between the spacecraft and the atmosphere. More between the spacecraft and the atmosphereThe 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. More between the spacecraft and the […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

heliocentric

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 solar 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 solar panel. 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 Sun line. More centered. In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus placed 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 solar […]

TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

hyperbolic trajectory

One of the four conic sections that describe a spacecraft’s possible paths in space. Spacecraft on hyperbolic trajectories escape Earth’s gravityA projectileA 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 with a prescribed path that cannot be altered after it has burned its 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 and the laws of ballistics govern its course. When 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 is the only force on it, its pathThe elliptical-shaped path a satellite takes in going from one circular orbit to another as part of a Hohmann Transfer. More is […]

TSTI Admin No Comments June 20, 2024

inclination

Describes the tilt of the orbital plane with respect to the fundamental planeOne of four pieces of information needed to create a coordinate systemA frame of reference that engineers use as a foundation for describing an object’s motion. Coordinate systems have a center point (origin), two or three axis lines that start at the origin, and one of the axis lines designated as the principal direction. More. Contains two axes of the system. More. Has a range in values from 0o to 180o.

TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

inertial

Not accelerating.

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

ITAR

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are a set of US government regulations that controlThe job of the attitude determination and control subsystemThe job of the attitude determination and control subsystem (ADCS) is to keep its spacecraft pointed in the right direction. More (ADCS) is to keep its spacecraft pointed in the right direction. More the export and import of defense-related articles and services. US Space TechnologyThe scienceThe science and technology of spaceflight. It includes designing, building, testing, and deploying spacecraft, launch vehicles, launch complexes, and many more space-related facilities. More and technologyThe science and technology of spaceflight. It includes designing, building, testing, and deploying spacecraft, launch vehicles, launch complexes, and many more space-related facilities. More of spaceflight. It includes designing, […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

ITU

A limited number of frequencies exist and international coordination is needed to prevent interference. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) coordinates frequencyThe number of waves that go by in one second. More use between the three regions the EarthSolar 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 reflected off EarthSolar energy reflected off Earth that accounts for about 20% of the total energy impacting low-Earth-orbiting spacecraft. More that accounts for about 20% of the total 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 impacting low-Earth-orbiting spacecraft. More […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 10, 2026

launch vehicle

A rocketA fluid-dynamics concept that says as low-velocity gases pass into the converging part of 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, they accelerateA 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 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 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 in a thermodynamic rocket. […]