Shooting for the Moon Bernard Brown Ashley Richter Will Bullins

 The force acting on a 2,000 kg rocket is 5,000 N. What is the acceleration of the rocket? F=Mass x Acceleration

 What are some positive and negative outcomes of past space explorations?

 NASA plans on developing a spacecraft within the next decade that will be able to bring dust from mars back to earth.  The proposed mission will use a rocket to propel the SCIM spacecraft toward Mars to retrieve dust from the planet.

 How do rockets work? 3 Major Parts ○ Engine – An engine is a system that uses temperature differences to create pressure differences. The engine burns the fuel creating higher pressure. ○ Combustion Chamber – Inside the combustion chamber, fuel and liquid oxygen combine and burn explosively. ○ Nozzle – A small opening which allows hot gases to escape at very high speeds. The resulting action on the rocket is thrust.

Thrust is the force that propels a rocket into the atmosphere. This can be explained by Newton’s Third Law of Motion. “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” As the rocket pushes gases downward toward the earth, the rocket is pushed in the opposite direction toward the atmosphere. (Mass x Acceleration) of Gas = (Mass x Acceleration) of Rocket

 Newton’s First Law of Motion An object in uniform motion will continue in uniform motion unless acted on by an outside force. Resistance – Anything that opposes movement.  After leaving earth’s atmosphere, the SCIM spacecraft will travel at the same speed without the use of fuel toward Mars.  In space there is no air and therefore no resistance. Thrusters will be used to change the direction of the spacecraft.

 The SCIM spacecraft is designed to enter Mars’ atmosphere and collect dust samples. Side panels will open to expose a sticky gel which the dust will attach and be stored until the spacecraft returns.  Using its thrusters, the SCIM spacecraft will accelerate to increasing altitudes until it escapes Mars atmosphere and begins its journey back toward Earth.  After entering Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft will slow down due to gravity and utilize a parachute for a soft landing.