Read more about the article Launch Escape Systems
A Dragon 2 undergoing a Pad Abort test on May 6, 2015, demonstrating a pusher LAS.

Launch Escape Systems

We will be discussing Launch Escape Systems (LES). Also called Launch Abort System (LAS), it is a crew safety system connected to the space capsule

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Read more about the article Octaweb Structure
Engines are placed at offset. The smaller black holes is for the gas generator exhaust. Credits: SpaceX

Octaweb Structure

Merlin engines are arranged in an Octaweb Structure. ‘Octa’ means eight and ‘web’ structure as it depicts radiating lines from the center. The Octaweb is a metal structure that supports eight engines surrounding a center engine at the base of the launch vehicle.  Falcon 9 v1.0 and v1.1 engine. Credits: Craigboy/Wikipedia What is its purpose? The short answer is stability. The Octaweb also reduces the length and weight of the Falcon 9 thrust structure, simplifying the rocket’s design and assembly. Streamlining…

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Read more about the article Merlin Engines powering Falcon 9
Single Merlin engine under test conditions. Credits: SpaceX

Merlin Engines powering Falcon 9

Falcon 9 is powered by a Merlin engine. It has the highest thrust-to-weight ratio of any boost engine ever made, while still maintaining the structural and thermal safety margins needed to carry astronauts. Merlin engines use RP-1 and liquid oxygen as rocket propellants in a gas-generator power cycle. The Merlin engine was originally designed for sea recovery and reuse. Propellants are fed via a single shaft, dual impeller turbopump. The turbopump also provides high-pressure fluid for the hydraulic actuators, which then…

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Vis-viva Equation

The Vis-viva equation is a fundamental equation used in orbital mechanics which relates the velocity of an object in an orbit around a planet, to its distance from the center of the planet and the semi-major axis of its orbit. The beauty of this equation is that a lot of deductions can be made for different relations between the semi-major axis and the positional distance of the object. Let's see the equation first. Here — v is the relative speed of…

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Read more about the article Principal Axes of Rocket
Axes of a rocket. Photo credits: NASA

Principal Axes of Rocket

The origin of the principal axes of the rocket comes from the corresponding axes and motion in an aircraft. All three Axes Principal Axes. Photo Credits: NASA Pitch motion The Pitch axis passes through the center of gravity and is parallel to the wings. Pitching motion in an aircraft: Credits: NASA Roll Motion Roll motion in an aircraft. Credits: NASA Yaw motion Yaw motion in an aircraft. Credits: NASA How to find the principal axes in an rocket? In a rocket,…

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Read more about the article Hohmann Transfer Orbit
Hohmann Transfer Orbit Explanation

Hohmann Transfer Orbit

A Hohmann Transfer is an orbital maneuver that is used to transfer a satellite or spacecraft from one circular orbit to another. It was invented by a German scientist, Walter Hohmann in 1925 and is often (not always) the most fuel-efficient way to get from one circular orbit to another circular orbit. Although it can take a longer time as compared to other orbital maneuvers. To understand this transfer phenomenon, you need to understand a couple of things first. First, each…

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Read more about the article Gas Generator Cycle
Gas-generator rocket cycle. Photo credits: Duk/Wikipedia

Gas Generator Cycle

The gas generator cycle is one of the most commonly used power cycles in a bipropellant liquid rocket engine. Let us understand the working of a typical Gas generator cycle-based engine using the below diagram. Gas-generator rocket cycle. Photo credits: Duk/Wikipedia Let's start from the topmost part. Liquid fuel and Liquid Oxygen are stored in two separate tanks. These propellants are taken up by two pumps — The fuel pump and the Oxidizer pump, which increases the pressure and temperature of…

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Read more about the article Liquid Fuel Rocket
A technician performs maintenance on a Space Shuttle Main Engine, (SSME) Photo Credits: NASA

Liquid Fuel Rocket

The basic principle and working of a liquid fuel rocket are pretty simple. The fuel and oxidizer (together called propellants) are stored in two separate pressurized tanks. These are then pumped into a combustion chamber by use of "pumps". Finally, the exhaust formed because of combustion is made to pass through a de Laval nozzle or a converging-diverging nozzle that accelerates the exhaust gases to very high velocity, resulting in the required thrust. Heinkel He 176 was a German rocket-powered aircraft.…

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