TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

out-gassing

The release of trapped gases and evaporated material from spacecraft 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. The released gases can coat electronic […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

parametric cost estimating

Uses a series of mathematical relationships that relate cost to physical, technical and performance parameters. Often most widely used in Space Industry due to cost of a detailed bottom-up estimate.

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

Pareto Principle

80/20 rule, e.g. the last 20% of performance will consume 80% of the mission cost.

TSTI Admin No Comments April 10, 2026

parking orbit

A temporary 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 for a spacecraft before transferring to its mission 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. […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 10, 2026

payload

The spacecraft’s sensors and other instruments that do the mission. For remote-sensing spacecraft, it’s the cameraLarge telescopic cameras developed by the Smithsonian Institute to observeLarge telescopic cameras developed by the Smithsonian Institute to observe orbiting satellites. They were the backbone of early space surveillance. More orbiting satellites. They were the backbone of early space surveillanceLarge telescopic cameras developed by the Smithsonian Institute to observe orbiting satellites. They were the backbone of early space surveillance. More. More (sensor) that forms an image of the subject. For communicationAn assembly of spacecraft components that collect, process, store, and […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

perturbation

Any changes to Classical Orbital Elements (COEs) due to forces other than 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; a slight orbital wobble. Neptune was […]

TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

principle direction

This is defined in a coordinate systemA frame of reference that engineers use as a foundation for describing an object’s motionA rotating object’s spin rate. We use the right-hand rule to determine its direction. More. Coordinate systems have a center point (originDefines a physically identifiable starting point for the coordinate system. More), two or three axis lines that start at the originDefines a physically identifiable starting point for the coordinate system. More, and one of the axis lines designated as the principal direction. More by pointing a unit vector […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

project control

A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a useful tool for defining and controlling the project. The project’s Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) serves as the grand plan for how the project tasks will be organized and executed. Typical schedules use network modeling such as Gantt charts to capture the relationship between elements in the WBSA work […]

TSTI Admin No Comments June 20, 2024

RAAN

This classic orbital elementFor the fifth orbital elementFor the fifth orbital element, we measure the angle along the orbital path between the ascending node and perigee and call it the argument of perigee. We always measure this angle in the direction of spacecraft motion. More, we measure the angle along the orbital pathThe elliptical-shaped path a satellite takes in going from one circular orbit to another as part of a Hohmann Transfer. More between the ascending nodeFor the fifth orbital element, we measure the angle along the orbital path between the ascending node and perigee and call it the argument of perigee. We always measure this angle in the direction of spacecraft motion. More and perigee and call it the argument of perigeeFor the fifth orbital element, we measure the angle along the orbital path between the ascending node and perigee and call it the argument of perigee. We always measure this angle in the direction of spacecraft motion. More. We always measure 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 in the direction of spacecraft motionA rotating object’s spin rate. We use the right-hand rule to determine its direction. More. More, right ascension of the ascending nodeFor the fifth orbital elementFor the fifth orbital element, we measure the angle along the orbital path between the ascending node and perigee and call it the argument of perigee. We always measure this angle in the direction of spacecraft motion. More, we measure the 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 […]

TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

radiation

EnergyWe 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 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 Sun line. More waves emitted by hot objects. Our Sum emits the most EM radiationHigh-level, short-term radiationHigh-level, short-term radiation exposure, causing more damage to human tissue than the same level spread over a longer time. More exposureHigh-level, short-term radiation exposure, causing more damage to human tissue than the same level spread over a longer time. More, causing more damage to human tissue than the […]