TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

technology

Technical aspects of space missions. 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, building, testing, and deploying spacecraft, launch vehicles, launch complexes, and many more space-related facilities. More Readiness Level (TRL) is a common metric used to determine where a 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, building, testing, and deploying spacecraft, […]

TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

third body effects

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 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 from 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 […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 10, 2026

trajectory

The pathThe elliptical-shaped pathThe elliptical-shaped path a satellite takes in going from one circular orbit to another as part of a Hohmann Transfer. More a satellite takes in going from one circular orbitA circular orbit has no perigee. In this case, we have no argument of perigee, or true anomaly, because both use perigee as a reference. More to another as part of a Hohmann TransferThe minimum-energy maneuver to get from one circular orbit to another in the same plane. It uses a velocity change to get from the original orbit into a transfer orbit and another one to get out of the transfer orbit into the final orbit. More. More an object follows through space.

TSTI Admin No Comments April 10, 2026

transfer orbit

In order to get from one 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. Orbits 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 to a second orbitThe oval-shaped path 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 […]

TSTI Admin No Comments June 20, 2024

true anomaly

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 solar energy 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 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 along the orbital pathThe elliptical-shaped path a satellite takes in going from one circular orbitA circular orbit has no perigee. In this case, we have no argument of perigee, or true anomaly, because both use perigee as a reference. More to another as part of a HohmannThe elliptical-shaped path a satellite takes in going from one circular orbit to another as part of a Hohmann Transfer. More […]

TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

two-body equation of motion

The two-body equation of motionThe two-body equation of motionThe two-body equation of motion, used to analyze spacecraft motion around Earth assumes: there are only two bodies—the spacecraft and Earth, and Earth’s gravitational pull is the only force acting on the spacecraft. More, used to analyze spacecraft motion around EarthSolar energy reflected off Earth that accounts for about 20% of the total energy impacting low-Earth-orbiting spacecraft. More assumes: there are only two bodies—the spacecraft and EarthSolar energy reflected off Earth that accounts for about 20% of the total energy impacting low-Earth-orbiting spacecraft. More, and Earth’s gravitational pull is the only force acting on the spacecraft. More, used to analyze spacecraft motionA rotating object’s spinA rotating object’s spin rate. We use the right-hand rule to determine its direction. More rate. We use the right-hand rule to determine its […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 10, 2026

upperstage

Provides the extra kicks of energy needed to transfer the spacecraft from its parking orbitA temporary 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 for a spacecraft before transferring to its mission 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. A spacecraft may need checkout timeThe time between successive passages of the Sun overhead, which is from noon one day to noon the next day. Because Earth’s orbit around the Sun is slightly elliptical, this time varies slightly during a year. More in low-Earth orbit, so we place it in a parking orbitA temporary orbit for a spacecraft before transferring to its mission orbit. A spacecraft may need checkout time in low-Earth orbit, so we place it in a parking orbit while we test it. Then we ignite a spacecraft thruster to transfer it to its mission orbit. More while we test it. Then we ignite a spacecraft thruster to transfer […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 10, 2026

users

The people who will benefit from the mission. Also see customers. This is one of the three concepts included in the mission statement.

TSTI Admin No Comments October 7, 2024

vacuum

A pure vacuum is a volume of space completely devoid of all material. When talking about space, we are talking about a “near” or “hard” vacuumA pure vacuumA pure vacuum is a volume of space completely devoid of all material. When talking about space, we are talking about a "near" or "hard" vacuum, not a pure vacuum because this is nearly unattainable. More is a volumeThe amount of air within a certain volume. Atmospheric density is higher at sea-level and decreases as you go up in altitude. More of space completely devoid of all material. When talking about space, we are talking about a “near” or “hard” vacuumA pure vacuum is a volume of space completely devoid of all material. When talking about space, we are talking about a "near" or "hard" vacuum, not a pure vacuum because this is nearly unattainable. More, not a pure vacuumA pure vacuum is a volume of space completely devoid of all material. When talking about space, we are talking about a "near" or "hard" vacuum, not a pure vacuum because this is nearly unattainable. More […]

TSTI Admin No Comments April 6, 2026

WBS

A work breakdown structure allows us to systematically divide an entire project into a set of major tasks, subtasks etc, until we’ve defined the entire scope of project work in detail.