1. Aerospace Dimensions
Module 6
Spacecraft

2. Contents Chapter 1 – Unmanned Spacecraft Chapter 2 – Manned Spacecraft
Chapter 3 – Living and Working in Space
Quiz
Credits

3. Chapter 1
Unmanned Spacecraft

4. Satellites
The word satellite comes from the French language, it was at one point a name for a guard or attendant. The term was coined by Johannes Kepler in 1611 while observing the motion of the Galilean moons. Today, the term satellite means objects, both natural and artificial, that orbits another object.
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5. Satellites
Man-made satellites have been launched only for a few decades now, starting in 1957 with the Russian built Sputnik satellite and the American built Explorer satellite
Sputnik I
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6. Satellites
Shortly after these primitive satellites were launched, the first communications satellite (COMSATs) was launched in The first COMSAT was the Score satellite, which broadcast taped messages for 13 days. Shortly after this, Telstar I became the first commercially operated satellite in space
The satellite could process up to 60 two-way phone conversations at once. Today, COMSATs are still booming. In 1989, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization launched a satellite that could accommodate 15,000 two-way voice circuits and 2 TV channels at once.
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8. Satellites
NASA also has a wide array of COMSATs as well. Their Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) is comprised of 3 satellites that provide for 24 hour communications with the space shuttle while in orbit, as well as up to 25 other NASA low-orbit spacecraft. They’ve also established the Deep Space Network (DSN).
The DSN is made of 3 deep space communications complexes, that allow communication with deep space probes on other planets and elsewhere. These COMSATs work because they provide a higher up locations that provides for a much wider area you can draw a line of sight to.
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9. Ground Monitoring Station
Satellites
Deep Space Network
Ground Monitoring Station
TDRSS Satellite

10. Satellites
In the late 1960s a new type of satellite was introduced: navigational satellites (NAVSAT). The first, Transit, was launched in order to give Polaris missile submarines their positions on Earth more accurately. Today, the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) is the most familiar NAVSAT system to us.
GPS enables us to know where we are on Earth within a few yards of our position, and has only in recent decades been made available to the civilian population. Another category of satellite networks are the natural resource satellites, or LANDSATs.
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11. Satellites
LANDSATs provide a multitude of services such as agricultural information, coastal information, etc. We’re all probably familiar with weather satellites as well, or have at least seen the information they produce – on the weather reports we see. Weather satellites are one of the oldest types, being around since 1960.
The first weather satellite Tiros I, proved it’s worth the first day it was in orbit – providing an image of a hurricane the same day it was launched. Since then, weather satellites have improved greatly. Today, we use the GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites) to get very accurate weather information.
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12. Satellites
GPS Satellite
GOES Satellite

13. Satellites
Yet another group of satellites is the Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO), which provided solar observations in the 60s and 70s. They also helped further our understanding of x-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet rays. While many people may not be very interested in regular working horse satellites, the satellites known as space probes are much more interesting.
Space probes are satellites or spacecraft meant to fly by, orbit, or land on another celestial body. There have been many series of space probes, from the Ranger series which took pictures of the Moon for the Apollo missions, to the Voyager series which travelled through our entire solar system and continue to travel into deep space today.
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14. Satellites
Mariner Probe
Ranger Probe

15. Satellites
Viking Probe
Pioneer Probe

16. Satellites
Voyager space probe as it passes Jupiter

17. Satellite Systems
A satellite’s systems consists of several related parts to a satellite, not just the hardware onboard. Every satellite has a system made up of people, the environment around them, both a space and Earth-bound command and control system, satellite sub-systems, and the launch.
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18. Satellite Systems
The human component of a satellite system is one of the most complex. Many people are involved in a satellite throughout it’s progress. There are people involved in it’s design, manufacture, launch, and operation. This section also includes the customers of the satellite, as they give the satellite a purpose.
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19. Satellite Systems
The space environment around the satellites is also a key player in the satellites design, as we can’t control the environment, only adapt to it. As space is extremely dangerous to satellites as well, they must be very tough. The biggest factor satellites must consider is the pull of gravity.
Satellites must be able to maintain their orbit, otherwise they will fall from it. They must also deal with extreme radiation conditions from the Sun as well. Another major threat to satellites are micrometeorites, or tiny particles travelling at VERY high speeds that can cause severe damage for their size.
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20. Satellite Systems
The next part of a satellite system are the actual sub-systems of the satellite. These include a structure, a propulsion system, an attitude control system, a power system, a thermal system, and a command and control system. The specifications of these sub-systems are defined by the mission of the satellite. The structure of the satellite is the actual framework of the satellite.
A propulsion system provides power to get into orbit and stay into orbit. An attitude control system provides for minor corrections in the satellites position. A power system provides electricity for the satellite.
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21. Satellite Systems
Satellites also experience extreme temperature differences, so it’s necessary to ensure the satellite stays warm enough during it’s nighttime period, which is what the thermal system provides for.
Finally, the command and control system functions as the communications system between the ground and satellite, telling the satellite what to do essentially. The last part of a satellite system is the launch of the satellite.
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22. Orbits and Trajectories
An orbit is the path a satellite takes around a celestial body. Orbital theories about how the celestial bodies move has been around for a very long time. The first theory was proposed by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in , which placed Earth at the center of everything (geocentric theory).
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23. Orbits and Trajectories
Ptolemy’s theory was proven wrong in the 1400s by Copernicus, when he proposed his heliocentric theory, which places the Sun at the center of our solar system. 200 years later, in the 1600s, Johannes Kepler developed his rules of motion known as Kepler’s laws.
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Johannes Kepler

24. Orbits and Trajectories
These laws govern the movement of celestial bodies. The first of his laws states that the orbit of each planet is an ellipse, with the Sun at the center. In an elliptical orbit, there is a point the object is at it’s highest, and at it’s lowest.
The highest point is known as it’s apogee, and it’s lowest is known as it’s perigee.
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25. Orbits and Trajectories
An example of Kepler’s First Law

26. Chapter 2
Manned Spacecraft

27. Project Mercury
Project Mercury was the United States’ first manned space program, and launched it’s first mission on May 15, 1961, putting Alan Shephard, the first American in space, into suborbital space for 15 minutes. The program also put the first American into orbit, with it’s third flight.
Project Mercury lasted 2 years and had six manned missions. The main goals of Project Mercury was to answer basic questions about humans being in space that nobody fully understood.
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28. Project Mercury The astronauts of Project Mercury
All six of the Mercury launches, from left to right

29. Project Gemini
After Mercury, Project Gemini began. There was a total of 10 manned Gemini flights and it’s goal was to research many of the things that would needed to be done to accomplish a moon landing such as docking procedures and space walks.
The Gemini flights were two-man capsules that were much larger than the Mercury capsules. The Gemini flights achieve the first spacewalk as well as the first docking between two spacecraft.
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30. Project Gemini
Gemini Capsule
Gemini Launch

31. Project Apollo
From the early 1960s, America’s space program’s goal was to put a man on the Moon and return him safely. With the end of the Gemini flights, Project Apollo began. Apollo’s goal was to put a man on the Moon. Early Apollo flights simply orbited in the Moon and returned.
With the launch of Apollo 11 however, it was time to land a man on the moon. On July 20, 1969, Neil A. Armstrong became the first man to walk on the surface of the Moon. Shortly after, Buzz Aldrin became the second. After Apollo 11, there were another 6 missions, 5 of which were successful.
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32. Project Apollo

33. Project Skylab
Project Skylab used a lot of the leftover equipment from the Apollo missions. Skylab’s mission however, was to put a laboratory into space in order to study the effects of long-term spaceflight. Skylab was launched in 1973 and had about the same amount of room as a 3 bedroom house.
It contained all of the oxygen, food, and other supplies necessary for the mission. There were three crews that were on Skylab throughout it’s life. The first stayed for 28 days, the second for 58 days, and the third for 84 days. Skylab showed that people could live and work in space for at least 3 months safely.

34. Project Skylab
Skylab Launch
Skylab in Orbit

35. Project Apollo-Soyuz
After Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz was the last manned project until the Space Shuttle. The project launched a leftover Apollo capsule in July of 1975 that was to dock with a Soviet Soyuz capsule in space. The crews docked for two days, working together.
The project marked the end of the era of disposable spacecraft. After Apollo-Soyuz, spacecraft were to be reusable, not simply one launch.
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36. Project Apollo-Soyuz
The Apollo and Soyuz spacecrafts docking

37. The Space Shuttle
The first launch of the Space Shuttle in 1981 ended a 6 year period after Apollo-Soyuz that America had no astronauts in space. The first Space Transportation System (STS) flight was in April of The shuttle was the first spacecraft designed to be used more than once.
The STS consists of three main parts: the orbiter, the solid rocket boosters (SRBs), and the external fuel tank. The orbiter is about the size of a DC-9 jet and carries the crew and payload. The SRBs and the external fuel tank are part of it for the launch only.
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38. The Space Shuttle
There are 5 shuttles that have been into space, Columbia, Challenger, Endeavor, Discovery and Atlantis. The first four flights were done in Columbia and were mainly test flights, seeing how it would handle reentry. The fifth mission was the first operational flight.
STS-5 occurred in November of 1982 and launched two satellites. The first American woman in space also occurred on the space shuttle on STS-7. The shuttle has been on well over a hundred missions now, and is entering it’s final year of service in 2010.
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39. The Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle Launch
Space Shuttle in Orbit

40. The Soviet Union’s Space Program
The Soviet space program developed at the same time as NASA, during the ‘space race.’ The Soviet program had several firsts in space. They launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, the first man into space, the first man to orbit Earth, the first woman, and went on the first space walk.
The Soviets had several space stations, the first being the Salyut stations, which included 7 space stations. The Soviets launched Mir in February of Mir has more room for comfort than the Salyuts did. Americans have spent over 2 years on Mir on different occasions as well.
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41. The Soviet Union’s Space Program
Mir
Yuri Gagarin, the first man to enter space and orbit the Earth

42. Living and Working In Space
Chapter 3
Living and Working
In Space

43. Space Stations
The idea of space stations has been around since space travel began. The first space station, Salyut I, was launched in April of 1971 by the Soviet Union. It was crewed for three weeks, and then fell to Earth 6 months after launch. There were a total of 7 Salyut stations. After Salyut, the Soviets began developing the Mir space station.
Mir was launched in February of 1986 and had comfort in mind more than it was on the Salyut missions. Towards the end of it’s life in 1998, Mir experienced several malfunctions that NASA assisted with using the Space Shuttle.
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44. Space Stations
The United States were not left behind in the Space Station race however. Two years after the launch of Salyut, America launched Skylab in May of A total of three crews visited Skylab, the first staying 28 days, the second staying 58 days, and the third staying for 84 days.
The European Space Agency also sent a space station to orbit. Their Spacelab was carried onboard the shuttle Columbia and therein never in orbit for more than 30 days.
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45. Space Stations
Mir
Skylab

46. Extravehicular Activities
Extravehicular activity (EVAs) is the general term used for going outside of a spacecraft. The first spacewalk took place in March of 1965 by Soviet Aleksei Leonov and lasted 20 minutes. America accomplished their first 3 months later. The longest spacewalk was set on Skylab 4 at 7 hours and 1 minute.
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47. Space Suits
A major part of space flight and spacewalks are the space suits you do them in. Space suit design started in the 1930s with the development of pressure suits for very high-altitude flyers. During the next 30 years, space suits continued to develop. However, even the astronauts of Project Mercury just wore pressure suits. Project Gemini was the first project in which astronauts could remove their bulky suits inside the spacecraft.
As space flight progressed, the largely immobile suits of Project Mercury became obsolete. The Project Apollo moon suits were very unique in that they were extremely rugged. The suits protected against temperatures as high as 250 degrees as well as protecting from the intense radiation.
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48. Space Suits
Space Shuttle suits were even more advanced than the Apollo suits, designed to be put on one layer at a time, and to accommodate men and women. It’s also designed to be reusable and last up to 15 years. In 1984 the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) was invented.
This unit was a bulky pack that was fitted on to an astronaut’s back that allowed him to move without being tied down to a spacecraft.
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49. Space Suits
An astronaut with an MMU on
The Apollo moon suit

50. The Future In Space
Space travel is most definitely here to stay with us. NASA currently plans on going back to the Moon and on to Mars. The Space Station Alpha, also known as the International Space Station, is also now fully operational in orbit around Earth. ISS is a joint operation between the US, Canada, Europe, Japan and Russia.
Future spacecraft will also be reusable just as the shuttle is, and several are being designed to replace the shuttle after it’s last year in As space becomes more open to us, commercial space travel is something not too far off in the future.
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51. The Future in Space The International Space Station
The Orion Space Capsule, one of the potential shuttle replacements

52. Quiz

53. Question 1 A) Ptolemy B) Kepler C) Copernicus D) Galileo
Who’s laws govern orbital motion?
A) Ptolemy B) Kepler C) Copernicus D) Galileo
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54. Correct!
Johannes Kepler’s Laws of Motion governs the orbital motion of celestial bodies.
Next Question

55. Incorrect
Johannes Kepler’s Laws of Motion governs the orbital motion of celestial bodies.
Next Question

56. Question 2 What satellite was the first commercial COMSAT?
A) NAVSTAR B) Tiros I C) Telstar I D) GOES
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57. Correct!
The first commercial COMSAT was Telstar I
Next Question

58. Incorrect
The first commercial COMSAT was Telstar I
Next Question

59. Question 3 Which of the following is a part of a satellite system?
A) People B) Sub-Systems C) Space Environment D) All of the above
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60. Correct!
The people, the environment around a satellite, and it’s hardware sub-systems are all part of the satellite system.
Next Question

61. Incorrect
The people, the environment around a satellite, and it’s hardware sub-systems are all part of the satellite system.
Next Question

62. Question 4
Which project involved a American and Soviet docking in space?
A) Apollo-Soyuz B) Gemini C) Skylab D) Mercury
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63. Correct!
An American and Soviet spacecraft docked during the Apollo-Soyuz program.
Next Question

64. Incorrect
An American and Soviet spacecraft docked during the Apollo-Soyuz program.
Next Question

65. Question 5
Who was the first man on the Moon?
A) Chuck Yeager B) Buzz Aldrin C) Neil Armstrong D) Ed White
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66. Correct!
The first man on the Moon was Neil Armstrong.
Next Question

67. Incorrect
The first man on the Moon was Neil Armstrong.
Next Question

68. Question 6
Which group of satellites can give you your position down to just a couple of yards?
A) GOES B) LANDSAT C) COMSAT D) GPS
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69. Correct!
GPS satellites are capable of giving you your position down to just a few yards.
Next Question

70. Incorrect
GPS satellites are capable of giving you your position down to just a few yards.
Next Question

71. Question 7 What was the United States’ first space station called?
A) Spacelab B) Skylab C) Mir D) Space Station Alpha
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72. Correct! America’s first space station was known as Skylab.
Next Question

73. Incorrect America’s first space station was known as Skylab.
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74. Question 8 What was Russia’s second space station project called?
A) Salyut
B) Apollo
C) Soyuz
D) Mir
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75. Correct! Russia’s second space station program was known as Mir.
Next Question

76. Incorrect Russia’s second space station program was known as Mir.
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77. Question 9
Research has shown that living in space for long periods of time is impossible.
True
False
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78. Correct!
Research done on Skylab has shown that living in space for long periods of time is possible.
Next Question

79. Incorrect
Research done on Skylab has shown that living in space for long periods of time is possible.
Next Question

80. Question 10
What was the European Space Agency’s first space station called?
A) Mir
B) Skylab
C) Spacelab
D) ISS
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81. Correct!
The European Space Agency’s first space station was known as Spacelab.
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Credits

82. Incorrect
The European Space Agency’s first space station was known as Spacelab.
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Credits

83. Credits Created by Cadet Ryan Stanley
Based on Aerospace Dimensions Module 6: Spacecraft
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