4301 SPSC Exam # 2 Due April 7, 2008
Name: _________________________________________________
1. Describe the rocket equation (also known as the Tsiolkovskii fromula). (Dont just list the equation describe the terms of the equation and why theyre important).
2. During launch, the loss of velocity due to gravity and drag is typically about ______________________. 3. The _____________________________________ describes a narrow region through which an entering vehicle must travel in order to avoid either being burned up or skipping out of the atmosphere. 4. Describe the ballistic coefficient of an object, and tell what kind of information it provides about an objects behavior during entry. 5. ________________________ has been proposed as a way to get free delta V by dipping into a planets atmosphere. 6. The _____________________________________ subsystem maintains and controls a spacecrafts attitude and orbit. 7. The _____________________________________ subsystem converts some energy source into usable electrical power to run a spacecraft. 8. The _____________________________________ subsystem carries loads and holds individual subsystems together. 9. The ____________________________________ subsystem uses some energy source to accelerate and expel a mass of propellant, thus creating thrust to propel a spacecraft. 10.The ____________________________________ subsystem keeps humans alive in space. 11. The ____________________________________ subsystem transfers data and commands between the spacecraft and the ground. 12.The ratio of a rocket engines thrust to the weight flow rate of propellants to required produce that thrust is called the _________________________________________________. 13.Orbital motion involves giving an object enough
_________________________ velocity so that its path matches the curvature of the surface its traveling over.
14.A spacecrafts trajectory will always take the shape of
a(n)_________________ section. 15. As orbital altitude increases, the orbital velocity __________________________, and vice-versa.
16.List and describe 3 important types of orbits
17. The most fuel-efficient way to transfer from one orbit to another is known as a(n) _________________________________________ 18. (True/False) Once a spacecraft reaches an average altitude of about 80 miles, it will achieve orbit regardless of its velocity.
19.(True/False) Changing the inclination (plane) of a spacecrafts orbit is
extremely expensive in terms of propellant.
20.When developing trajectories for deep space planetary missions, engineers...