ME 554 Rocket Propulsion

Problem Set – 5: Rocket Flight Performance

26. Consider a single-stage rocket and a double-stage rocket as shown in Fig. P26. Both the
rockets have the same total mass of 5000 kg, and the same specific impulse of 350 s. Both the
rockets have the same payload mass of 50 kg. The total structural mass of the double-stage
rocket is 500 kg, which is also the structural mass of the single-stage rocket. The total
propellant mass of the double-stage rocket is 4450 kg, which is also the propellant mass of the
single stage rocket. Both the rockets are boosting the same payload mass of 50 kg into space.
The breakdown between payload, structural, and propellant masses chosen in this example is
purely arbitrary, but keeping the total masses in each category the same between the two
rockets is intentional. In this way, the only difference between the rockets as shown in Fig.
P26 is that one is a single-stage rocket and the other is a double-stage rocket, but with the
same total masses distributed over two-stages. Find and compare the burnout velocities for
both the cases. [7.57 km/s, 11 km/s]

Fig. P26 Fig. P27

27. A two-stage planetary exploration vehicle is launched from a high-orbit satellite into a
gravity-free vacuum trajectory (Fig. P27). The following notations are used and explained in
the diagram. Subscripts 1 and 2 refer to first and second stages.
mo=initial mass of vehicle (or stage) at launch
mp=useful propellant mass of stage
mi =initial mass of stage (s)
mf =final mass of stage (after rocket operation) that includes empty propulsion system with
its residual propellant, the structures of the vehicle and the propellant system, the
controls, guidance and payload masses.
mpl=payload mass including guidance, control and communication equipment, antennas,
scientific instruments, research apparatus, power supply, solar panel, sensors etc.
Using the following data, determine the payload for two cases: (a) when two stage masses
are equal, and (b) when the mass ratios of the two stages are equal.
Flight velocity increment in gravity-free vacuum 6200 m/s
Specific impulse (Isp) 310 sec
Effective exhaust velocity (c), in all stages 3038 m/s
Initial launch vehicle mass 4500 kg
Propellant mass fraction (), in each stage 0.88
Structural mass fraction (1 – ), in each stage 0.12
[275 kg, 336 kg]
28. The specific impulse of a chemical rocket is 400 s. The rocket is in a zero gravity vacuum
flight. If we could improve the propellant fraction from 0.90 to 0.95, calculate the
percentage improvement in u that can be achieved. [30%]

29. For a vehicle in gravitationless space, determine the mass ratio necessary to boost the
vehicle velocity by 1600 m/s when the effective exhaust velocity is 2000 m/s. If the initial
vehicle mass is 4000 kg, what is the propellant mass? [0.449, 2204 kg]
30. What is the mass ratio for a vehicle that has one-fifth its original takeoff mass at the time of
completion of rocket operation? [0.80]
31. A sounding rocket (75 kg mass, 0.25 m diameter) is speeding vertically upward at an altitude
of 5000 m and a velocity of 700 m/s. For an angle of attack of 00, what is the deceleration in
multiples of g due to gravity and drag? At 5000 m, =0.763 kg/m3, T=255.65 K, and R =
296.9 J/kgK. Use the following graph to find CD at 700 m/s. [3.99 g]

32. A certain rocket maintains a horizontal attitude of its axis during the powered phase of its
flight at high altitude (Fig. P32). The thrust imparts a horizontal component of acceleration of
6 m/s2, and the downward acceleration component is the acceleration due to gravity at that
altitude, where g =9.0 m/s2. At the instant shown, the velocity of the mass center of the
rocket along 150 direction of its trajectory is 20x103 km/h. For this position, determine (a)
the radius of curvature, and (b) the rate which the speed is increasing. [4.32 x106 m, 8.12 m/s2]

Fig. P32 Fig. P33 Fig. P34

33. A space shuttle which moves in a circular orbit around the earth at a height 240 km above
its surface must have a speed of 27995 km/h (Fig. P33). Calculate the gravitational
acceleration g for this altitude. The mean radius of the earth is 6371 km. [9.12 m/s2]
34. A small projectile is fired from point O with an initial velocity 500 m/s at an angle of 600
from the horizontal (Fig. P34). Neglect atmospheric resistance and any change in g and find
the radius of curvature of the path of the projectile after 30 sec after the firing. [9.53 km]
35. The 3rd and 4th stages of a rocket are coasting in space with a velocity of 18000 km/h when a
small explosive charge between the stages separates them (Fig. P35). Immediately after
separation, the 4th stage has increased its velocity to 18060 km/h. What is the corresponding
velocity of the 3rd stage? At separation, the 3rd and 4th stages have masses of 400 and 200 kg,
respectively. [17970 km/h]
36. When the rocket (Fig. P36) reaches the position of its trajectory, it has a mass of 3 Mg and is
beyond the effect of earth’s atmosphere. Gravitational acceleration is 9.6 m/s2. Propellant is
consumed at the rate of 130 kg/s and the exhaust velocity relative to the nozzle is 600 m/s.
Find normal and tangential components of acceleration of the rocket. [8.31 m/s2, 21.2 m/s2]

Fig. P35 Fig. P36 Fig. P37

37. The space shuttle, together with its central propellant tank and two booster rockets, has a
total mass of 2.04 x 106 kg at lift-off (Fig. P37). Each of the two booster rockets produces a
thrust of 11.80 x 106 N, and each of the three main engines of the shuttle produces a thrust
of 2.0 x 106 N. The specific impulse for each of the three main engines of the shuttle is 455
sec. Find the initial vertical acceleration of the assembly with all five engines operating and
find the rate at which propellant is being consumed by each of the shuttle’s main three
engines. [4.70 m/s2, 448 kg/s]

REVIEW QUESTIONS
 Distinguish between atmospheric and space vehicles.
 Distinguish between a rocket, a missile, and a launch vehicle.
 How do you define space as per FAI and NASA?
 Distinguish between a spacecraft and a satellite.
 What are space probe and space station?
 What are missions of Space Shuttle?
 With the help of a sketch, explain briefly the re-entry corridor?
 List the total number of solid rocket boosters (including separation motors), main engines,
reaction control systems (primary and vernier thrusters) in the Space Shuttle.
 Where do you find the use of auxiliary rocket engines?
 What is the difference between a reaction control system (RCS) and attitude control system?
 What do you understand by the term ‘space rendezvous’ or ‘docking (lockon) maneuvers’?
 What are the phases of launch vehicle ascent?
 In a launch vehicle (also known as carrier rocket), what do mean by booster stage, sustainer
stage, half stage (or zero stage)? Explain with the help of a sketch.
 What are the three modules of Apollo 11 spacecraft?
 What are low-earth orbit (LEO), geo-synchronous earth orbit (GEO), and polar orbit (PO)?
 Mention the types of propellants/propellant combination used in the Space Shuttle’s (a)
Main Engine, (b) Orbital Maneuver System, (c) Reaction Control System, (d) Solid Rocket
Boosters, and (e) Separation rocket motors. In each case, state the approx. specific impulse.