Rocket Equation,

Dynamics, and
Launching

Ken Chen
COSMOS 2013
C3 Engineering Mechanics
 Why Rockets?
Imagine a world where you didnt have these:
Cell phones
Television
Internet
GPS Navigation
Rockets are used for:
Space transportation/exploration
Satellite communications
Military weaponry
Thank rockets!
Parts of a Rocket

http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/Images/rockpart
if
 Forces on a Rocket
On Center of Gravity
(CG)
Weight
Thrust (mostly)

On Center of Pressure
(CP) (Aerodynamic)
Lift
Drag
http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/rktaero.ht
l
 Thrust
Thrust-Newtons third law
Rocket pushes on propellant, propellant pushes back
on rocket

Thrust equation:
F m ve ( pe p0 ) Ae
thrust
Ways to increase thrust:
Maximize mass flow rate
Maximize exit velocity to incoming velocity
Correction term ( p p ) A
e 0 e
Pressure difference
 Drag
Frictional drag
Caused by friction of fluid against the surface
of the body
1 2
Pressure/Form drag D v AC D
Different shapes and sizes 2
Vortices in the wake of the body
Wave drag
Common at transonic and supersonic speeds
Can reach up to 4x subsonic drag
 Control
CP below CG
stable equilibrium
Gimbaled Thrust
Nozzle can be
shifted/rotated;
changes direction
of thrust
Vernier Rocket
Small additional
rocket engines

http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/rktcontrl.html
 Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky (1857-
1935)
Early education
impaired by
deafness
College Moscow
Studied
mathematics and
science
Monoplane
Wind tunnel
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/images/Tsiolkovsky.jpg
 Tsiolkovskys Contributions
Rocket equation
Still remains the basis of all rocket dynamics
today
Founder of rocket dynamics
Understood dynamics of firework rockets
through math and physics
Anthropocosmism
Humans will dominate space
Inspired several other great minds in
rocketry
Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945)
Masterful physicist
and inventor
Built/tested first
liquid fuel rocket in
1926
Patented multi-stage
rocket in 1914
German V2 missiles
Steering, vanes
http://www.rugusavay.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Robert-Goddard-4.jpg
 Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation
m0
V Veq ln
Derivation: m
f
Conservation of momentum
dp
F 0 dp p(t dt ) p (t )
dt
m
dm m dm
v (v dv) ve v dv

p(t ) m v p(t dt ) (m dm) (v dv) dm (v dv ve )

dp (m dm) (v dv) dm (v dv ve ) mv
dp mv mv vdm vdm dmdv dmdv mdv ve dm
dp mdv ve dm 0 Flip sign
dp mdv ve dm 0
Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation (cont.)
A parallel:
dp mdv ve dm 0
v
dv e dm Newtons Second Law
m Constant Mass
vf mf 1
v0 dv ve

m0 m
dm
Fnet m a
v f v0 ve (ln(m f ) ln(m0 ))

m0
v ve ln Variable Mass
m
f d (mv) dv dm
Fnet m v
dt dt dt
Ideal Rocket
Equation
 Specific Impulse Isp
A way to measure engine efficiency

F
I sp
m g

Can also be used to determine thrust

 What actually happens -
Launching
Potentially dangerous
Astronauts bear about 3 gs of acceleration
Requires a high amount of precision
Sound energy can cause damage
Liftoff process
Entire process controlled by computers
Increase in air pressure overstressing
Need enough thrust
 Future Rocket Dynamics
Nuclear Propulsion
Abandoned in 1972 (Project Rover)
Comeback?
ANTIMATTER Propulsion
Involves the annihilation of
matter
Efficiency is incomparable
interstellar missions

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/antimatter-1.jpg
 More on Antimatter Propulsion
When combining electron with anti-electron
Photons (gamma rays) e e 2

Proton with anti-proton

Pions p p n n n
o

Decay into muons and neutrinos

Eventually all annihilate or decay into massless particles,
photons, and neutrinos
Facts
Exhaust velocity ~0.95 c
Storage and production of antiprotons
1 ng/year
Comparison
Apollo 11 took 4 days to reach the moon
In 4 days, a pion antimatter rocket can travel from Earth to
Sun 350 times
 References
"Basic Rocket Motion." Guided Tours. Ed. Tom Benson. NASA, n.d. Web. 29
July 2013.
Braeunig, Robert A. "Basics of Space Flight: Rocket Propulsion." Rocket
and Space Technology. N.p., 2012. Web. 29 July 2013.
Brewster, Isaac. "The Physics Behind The Rocket." The Physics of Rockets.
University of Alaska Fairbanks, 31 Oct. 2000. Web. 29 July 2013.
Dunbar, Brian. "Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky." NASA. NASA, 20 Sept. 2010.
Web. 01 Aug. 2013.
Dunbar, Brian. "Societal Impact of the Space Age." NASA. NASA, 07 Nov.
2005. Web. 29 July 2013.
Dunbar, Brian. "What Is a Rocket?" NASA. NASA, 12 July 2011. Web. 29
July 2013.
Garner, Rob. "Robert H. Goddard." NASA. NASA, 28 July 2013. Web. 01
Aug. 2013.
Hafez, Mohamed M. "COSMOS Engineering Mechanics." COSMOS 2013.
Davis, California. July 2013. Lecture.
 References (cont.)
Keith, Edward L. "Fundamentals of Rockets and Missiles." Laurel,
Maryland. Lecture.
Krempetz, Kurt. "Freeflight Trimming." AMA Glider. Academy of Model
Aeronautics, May 2006. Web. 29 July 2013.
Portland State Aerospace Society. "Simple Rocket Science." Simplerockets
1d. Portland State University, 02 Mar. 2010. Web. 29 July 2013.
Qualitative Reasoning Group. "Propulsion." How Are Rockets
Designed? Northwestern University, n.d. Web. 29 July 2013.
Turner, Martin J. L. Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion: Principles, Practice
and New Developments. Berlin: Springer, 2009. Print.
Walter, Ulrich. Astronautics. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2008. Print.
Wilkinson, Peter. "Rocket Launch and Reentry." Senior Science. St. Francis
Xavier's College, Hamilton, n.d. Web.