History of Rocketry Astronomy

Archytas One of the first recorded “rockets” was actually a steam- propelled pigeon designed by Archytas around 400 BC. The pigeon employed the action-reaction principle of Newton’s third law

Hero of Alexandria Hero of Alexandria developed a similar rocket-type device in 100 BC This device also used the principle of action-reaction from Newton’s third law.

Chinese The Chinese were the first to develop solid fuel rocket-like devices; perhaps around 100 AD. Eventually they attached these gunpowder-filled tubes to arrows and launched them. The Chinese used these in battle, but more for the scare factor because they were not very accurate A Chinese Fire Arrow

Wan-Hu There is a story of a Chinese official named Wan-Hu who attempted to use rocket power to launch himself into space 47 assistants lit the rockets attached to his chair No one knows where Wan-Hu went

Sir Issac Newton Rocketry became a science after Sir Isaac Newton was able to explain how rockets work using his three laws of motion.

Jules Verne The dream of traveling through space was brought to life by French science fiction writer Jules Verne. In his De la Terre á la Lune, Verne used a giant cannon to fire a manned projectile at the Moon. Correctly described how the crew would feel “weightless” on their voyage. Verne, an early space exploration visionary, fired the imaginations of many would-be rocketeers and future astronauts.

Dr. Konstatin Tsiolkovsky In 1898 Russian school teacher, Konstatin Tsiolkovsky proposed the idea of space exploration using rockets. He suggested the use of liquid rocket fuel Tsiolkovsky is noted as the Father of Modern Astronautics

Dr. Robert Goddard American Robert Goddard had the first successful rocket flight using liquid fuel He also developed a gyroscope system for guidance, a payload, and parachute recovery He is known as the Father of Modern Rocketry

Hermann Oberth Hermann Oberth, a Romanian by birth and a naturalized German citizen, became fascinated by the works of Jules Verne and devoted his life to promoting space travel. Wrote the book Die Rakete zu den Planetanraumen (By Rocket to Space), explaining the mathematics of spaceflight and proposed practical rocket designs and space stations.

Wehner von Braun One of the leading figures in the development of pre-war Germany’s rocket program and the development of the V2 missile, von Braun (1912-1977) became a leading proponent of America’s space program. He worked on the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles and led the development team that launched Explorer 1. Dr. von Braun was the chief architect and engineer of the Saturn V Moon rocket.

Rockets Astronomy

How does a Jet Engine Work? The engine takes in a large volume of air. The air is heated and compressed and slowed down. The air is forced through many spinning blades. By mixing this air with jet fuel, the temperature of the air can be as high as three thousand degrees. The power of the air is used to turn the turbine. Finally, when the air leaves, it pushes backward out of the engine. This causes the plane to move forward. Birds

Jet Engine vs. Rocket Engine Same: They produce thrust through an internal pressure difference and, as explained by Newton’s Third Law of Motion, eject exhaust gases in an equal and opposite direction.  Difference: The main difference between them is that jets get the oxygen to burn fuel from the air and rockets carry their own oxygen, which allows them to operate in space. Jet engines have two openings (an intake and an exhaust nozzle). Rocket engines only have one opening (an exhaust nozzle).

Types of Rockets Solid-Fuel Rockets Liquid-Fuel Rockets Ion Rockets Plasma Rockets

Solid-Fuel Rockets Advantages: Disadvantages: One of the oldest and simplest type of rockets. Several solid chemicals are combined to make a single mixture, which is placed in the combustion chamber awaiting ignition. Disadvantages: Once fuel starts to burn there is no way to stop it. Some ingredients used are highly volatile, like nitroglycerin.

Liquid-Fuel Rockets Liquid-fuel rockets, as the name suggests, use liquid propellants to create thrust. Liquid-fuel rockets can be monopropellant or bipropellant in design, the difference being that bipropellant is composed of fuel and oxidizer, a chemical that allows the fuel to burn when mixed.

Ion and Plasma Rockets Ion Plasma More efficient than conventional as rocket technology, the ion rocket uses electrical energy from solar cells to provide thrust. The plasma rocket works by accelerating plasma produced by stripping negative electrons from hydrogen atoms inside a magnetic field and expelling them out the engine.

Goddard’s Liquid Rocket American college professor and scientist Robert Goddard built and flew the world’s first liquid propellant rocket on March 16, 1926. Its flight, though unimpressive (it climbed only 12.5 meters), was the forerunner of the Saturn V Moon rocket 43 years later.

Vergeltungswaffe 2 (V-2) In the late 1930s, the Germans built and flew the most advanced rocket for the time, the V2. They created a rocket powered by alcohol and liquid oxygen. With a range of 200 miles and a maximum altitude of 55 miles, the V2 could deliver a 1-ton explosive warhead to the heart of London without warning.

Mercury Redstone The Mercury-Redstone launch vehicle was the first crewed launch vehicle in the United States space program. This rocket was used for suborbital flights.

Mercury Atlas Mercury-Atlas was used for orbital flights within the Mercury program.

Gemini-Titan II GLV The Titan II GLV (Gemini Launch Vehicle) was an American launch system derived, from the Titan II missle. This rocket was used to launch twelve Gemini missions from NASA between 1964 – 1966.

Apollo Saturn V The Saturn V was an American rocket used by NASA between 1967 – 1973. It was a three-stage liquid-fueled super heavy-lift launch vehicle. Developed to support the Apollo program for human exploration of the Moon and later used to launch Skylab, the first American space station. Launch

Space Shuttle (STS) The Space Shuttle (or Space Transportation System) was a partially reusable, low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated by NASA. The idea for the Space Shuttle was taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development. Launch

Space Launch System (SLS) The Space Launch System (SLS) is an American Space Shuttle-derived super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle. It is a part of NASA’s deep space exploration plans including a crewed mission to Mars. The SLS is to be the most powerful rocket ever built with a total thrust greater than that of the Saturn V, although Saturn V could carry a greater payload mass. Orion crew

Delta IV Heavy The Delta IV Heavy (Delta 9250H) is an expendable, heavy-lift launch vehicle. The largest type of the Delta IV family and the world’s second highest-capacity rocket in operation. It is manufactured by United Alliance Launch and was first launched in 2004.

Falcon Heavy Falcon Heavy is a partially reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Falcon Heavy has the highest payload capacity of any currently operational launch vehicle, and the fourth-highest capacity of any rocket ever built. Launch

Future of Space Exploration NASA Future