Exploring in Aerospace Rocketry. An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Rocketry.

361 Pages·2007·9.25 MB·English

DOCUMENT RESUME
VT 014 596
ED 058 455
Introduction to
Exploring in Aerospace Rocketry. An
TITLE
the Fundamentals of Rocketry.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
INSTITUTION
Cleveland, Ohio. Lewis Research Center.
NASA-EP-88
REPORT NO
PUB DATE
71
366p.
NOTE
Government
Printing
Superintendent of Documents, U.S..
AVAILABLE FROM
3300-0394;
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (Stock No.
NAS1.19:88, $3.25)
MF-$0.65 HC-$13.16
EDRS PRICE
Technology;
Aerospace Industry; *Aerospace
DESCRIPTORS
*Industrial
*Curriculum Guides; Illustrations;
Occupational
Education; Instructional Materials;
Guidance; *Resource Materials; *Textbooks
*Rocketry
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
of lectures
This curriculum guide is based on 2 years
special-interest aerospace program
and projects of a contemporary,
uses technical
for promising students, ages 15-19. The program
trips to introduce students to
lectures, project activities and field
achievement, and
the real engineering world of pioneering aerospace
involves. This book can be used
the variety of skills and careers it
and
for high school and college teachers,
as a curriculum resource
writers.
curriculum committees and textbook
may be helpful to
selected chapters to enrich
Teachers in various disciplines can use
including applied mathematics,
or supplement regular courses,
modification, some of the
physics, chemistry and biology. With
and vocational education
material could be useful industrial arts
supplemented with numerous
courses. The 22 chapters are
line drawings. A related
illustrations, photographs, charts, and
document is available as VT 014 597.
(CD)
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SURPI
EX
ING
IN
AEROSPACE
ROCKETRY
An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Rocketry
cr)
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
c..)
1
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
EDUCATION & WELFARE
OFFICE OF EDUCATION
THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO-
LC1
DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM
THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIG-
INATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN-
IONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY
tin
REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDU-
CATION POSITION OR POLICY.
EXPLORING
IN
AEROSPACE
ROCKETRY
an Introduction to the Fundamentals of Rocketry
developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center, Cloveland, Ohio
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C. 20546
1971
For sale by tte Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C., 20402 - Price $3.26
Stook Number 3300-0394
PREFACE
"Exploring in Aerospace Rocketry" is an educational publication based on the lec-
tures and projects conducted during 2 years of the NASA-Lewis Aerospace Explorer pro-
gram. (A similar publication, titled "Exploring in Aeronautics" (NASA EP-89), is based
This pub-
on the activities of 1 year during which the program focused on aeronautics. )
lication is intended not only to provide a basic explanation of some of the fundamentals of
rocketry but also to stimulate other government agencies, educational institutions, pri-
vate industry, and business to establish career-motivation programs within their own
particular fields of activity.
The Lewis Aerospace Explorer *program was started in December 1965 by the Di-
rector of the NASA-Lewis Research Center. The principal objective of this program is
to provide promising students from local schools an opportunity for vocational guidance
and motivation for a wide range of technical professions in the aerospace field.
Each
year, candidates (ages 15 to 19 years) for the program are selected by school officials on
the basis of their demonstrated interest and proficiency in mathematics and science.
NASA's intent is to take these young people outside the academic classroom and to expose
them to the real engineering world of pioneering aerospace achievement. This transposi-
tion is made by introducing the youths to the kind of men, skills, thinking, planning, or-
ganization, and action necessary for successful mission accomplishment. Focus is on
Specifically, NASA is attempting
the interdisciplinary character of the aerospace teams.
to expose the young people to the great variety of skills and careers that are integrated
into and have impact on the general aerospace field.
The program format consists of technical lectures (illustrated with slides, motion
pictures, demonstrations, etc.), project activities, and field trips. In the lectures, basic
physical principles are explained, and unique analytical and experimental tools of the busi-
Projects are
ness are described.
In the project activities, the youths learn by doing.
assigned, planned, implemented, and analyzed, and the results are reported in consider-
able detail. In effect, the youths are exposed to a realistic "research-and-development"
The field trips help the participants to better understand various facets of
environment.
science and technology.
Throughout the program, communication (both oral and written) is highly emphasized.
The ability to communicate effectively is an important requirement for almost any career.
For realistic exercises in communication, the young people in the program maintain pro-
research-and-development con-
reports, and conduct
ject notebooks, give oral progress
ferences, or symposia.
interest, active partici-
reflected in the attendance,
The success of the program is
complete the
people themselves. Most of those who
pation, and enthusiasm of the young
their choice. We at NASA
through college, pursuing careers of
program continue on
engi-
people will choose careers in aerospace
hope, of course, that some of these young
by arousing the inter-
is achieving its objective merely
neering. However, the program
to explore various career
and helping them in a realistic way
est of these young people
possibilities.
is considerable. Many employ-
NASA-Lewis employee participation in the program
and help them in their sci-
sincerely work with the young people
ees enthusiastically and
aerospace-oriented
exposed to a wide range of
entific endeavors. Thus, the youths are
time and effort
scientists, and administrators. The
personnel - technicians, engineers,
contribution to thefu-
NASA employees is their personal
donated to the program by these
youth and our nation.
ture well-being and success of our
the authors
Explorers are identified herein as
Those employees who lectured to the
the various pro-
also served as associate advisers on
of the chapters. These lecturers
talent to the program in-
who donated their time and
ject activities. Other employees
William J. Ratvasky,
(Explorer Post sponsor); W. G. Mirshak,
cluded Dr. Abe Silverstein
associate advisers on
and Richard S. Williams (all
Larry E. Smith, John F. Staggs,
representative); John C. Evvard, Bruce R.
projects); Harold D. Wharton (institutional
W. Weiss (all
Maurer, John L. Pollack, and Calvin
Leonard, Roger W. Luidens, Roy A.
A. Brahms,
Committee); Joseph F. Hobzek, Jr., William
members of Program-Project
(all mem-
Manley, and Horace C. Moore, Jr. ,
Donald A. Kelsey, Clair R. King, L. L.
Clifford W. Brooks (photographer for the program
bers of Explorer Post Committee); and
projects).
and associate adviser on
James F. Connors
Director of Technical Services
Post)
(Adviser, Lewis Aerospace Explorer
INTRODUCTION
and perhaps as early as 3000
Rockets have been used for centuries. By 1000 B.C. ,
display and for use in warfare. As early
B. C. , the Chinese had developed rockets for
fiction was written about imaginary rocket trips to the
as the 2nd century A.D. , science
Goddard began a study of the use of rockets
Moon. Early in the 20th century, Robert H.
foundation for much of our present
for reaching extreme altitudes, and his work laid the
enough to lift men to the
rocket technology. The development of rockets sophisticated
attention of people everywhere. The
Moon and return them to Earth has captured the
therefore, for those who wish to
study of the principles of rocketry is quite appropriate,
understand the space age.
teachers in high schools and
This book could be used as a curriculum resource for
textbook writers.
It
It might also be helpful to curriculum committees and
colleges.
to enrich or supple-
discusses many topics which teachers in various disciplines can use
laws of physics are evident through-
ment their regular courses. Many applications of the
abundant. Applications of chem-
out the chapters. Examples of applied mathematics are
materials, and propellants. Mate-
istry will be found in the chapters on thermodynamics,
engineering. In general,
rial related to biology will be found in the chapter on biomedical
of high ability.
these applications will be most meaningful with students
in rocketry.
Teachers
The book could be used as the basis for an elective course
reading in related literature
who are interested in this possibility will want to do some
used to reinforce the concepts pre-
in order to identify numerical problems which can be
sented.
sophistication, could be use-
Some of the material, if presented at a lower level of
Students andadults who are hobby-
ful in industrial arts and vocational education courses.
to their interests.
ists in model rocketry will find much of the book relevant
of the companion volume,
It is hoped that one outcome of the use of this book, and
the interest and imagi-
"Exploring in Aeronautics" (NASA EP-89), will be to stimulate
interested in following develop-
nation of capable students so that many of them will be
ments in the rapidly changing aerospace field.
CONTENTS
Page
Chapter
iii
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
1
AEROSPACE ENVIRONMENT
1
John C. Evvard
Earth-Sun relations. Van
Atmosphere. Space and planetary environments.
Meteoroid hazards.
radiation.
Allen radiation belts. Solar winds. Thermal
Solar flares.
29
PROPULSION FUNDAMENTALS
2
.
James F. Connors
Acceleration).
Newton's
Newton's Second Law of Motion (Force = Mass x
Momentum. Exhaust
Thrust.
Third Law of Motion (Action = Reaction).
Nozzle flow and thrust performance.
Specific impulse.
velocity.
45
PERFORMANCE
.
CALCULATION OF ROCKET VERTICAL-FLIGHT
.
3
John C. Evvard
altitude for powered and
Simplified calculation procedure for determining
model rockets.
coasting vertical flight for single and multistaged
61
TH E RMOD YNA M IC S
4
Marshall C. Burrows
Ignition.
Injection.
1V/fixing 'and vaporization.
Propellant fundamentals.
Unstable processes.
Combustion. Heat transfer. Methodsid cooling.
79
MATERIALS
5
William D. Klopp
fractures in
High-temperature throat inserts for 'rocket nozzles. Weld
Lightweight, shatterproof fuel tanks.
rocket casings.
Chapter
Page
SOLID-PROPELLANT ROCKET SYSTEMS
6
95
Joseph F. McBride
Propellant grain types and designs. Motor cases.
History.
Ignition de-
vices.
Steering control.
Nozzles.
LIQUID-PROPELLANT ROCKET SYSTEMS
111
E. William Conrad
Propellants. Tankage. Pumps. Drives. Coolant systems. Injectors.
Combustion chambers. Nozzles.
Associated plumbing.
ZERO-GRAVITY EFFECTS
127
8
William J. Masica
Effects of gravity on fluid dynamical behavior in tanks of liquid rocket sys-
Heat transfer.
tems. Surface tension.
Vipor-liquid interface.
Zero-
gravity facilities.
ROCKET TRAJECTORIES, DRAG, AND STABILITY
9
143
Roger W. Luidens
Powered, coasting, and parachute trajectories.
Static stability.
Drag.
Centers of pressure and gravity of model rockets. Orbital and escape
velocities.
10
SPACE MISSIONS
161
Richard J. Weber
Requirements for manned and unmanned missions. Sounding rockets.
Planetary flyby missions.
Planetary landing modules.
LAUNCH VEHICLES
11
171
Arthur V. ZimMerman
Systems. Launch sites.
Booster and upper stakes.
Vehicle performance.
Staging requirements. NASA launch vehicles ani their lifting capabilities.
Page
Chapter
187
INERTIAL GUIDANCE SYSTEMS
12
Daniel J. Shramo
Gyroscopic drift.
Inertial navigation system. Gyroscope.
Navigation.
Accelerometers.
209
TRACKING
13
John L. Pollack
Instruments. Tri-
Observations and measurements from ground stations.
Altitude and range determinations, Range layout.
angulation.
225
ROCKET LAUNCH PHOTOGRAPHY
14
William A. Bowles
Photographic
The camera as a documentation and flight recording tool.
techniques. Optical instrumentation.
237
ROCKET MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION
15
Clarence C. Gettelman
Rocket performance variables expressed in terms of measurable quantities.
Measurement of force, pressure, temperature, and volume flow rate.
249
ELEMENTS OF COMPUTERS
16
Robert L. Miller
Machine lan-
Principles of analog and digital computers. Applications.
Storage and memory systems. Programming. Illustrations
guage - logic.
of representative facilities.
261
ROCKET TESTING AND EVALUATION IN GROUND FACILITIES
17
John H. Povolny
Static firings. Thermal-vacuum testing of systems and
Test facilities.
Reliability and quality assurance.
components. Structural dynamics.
Page
Chapter
281
LAUNCH OPERATIONS
18
Maynard I. Weston
Scheduling. Range safety requirements. Pro-
Teamwork. Communications.
cedures. Operations, Global tracking networks.
301
NUCLEAR ROCKETS
19
A. F. Lietzke
concepts. Specific im-
Fission heating of hydrogen. Reactor
Principles.
chemical rockets.
pulse potential. Comparisons with
313
ELECTRIC PROPULSION
20
Harold Kaufman
methods. Electrostatic acceleration.
Propulsion principles. Ionization
of high-specific-impulse
Continuous-low-thrust missions. Comparison
require-
nuclear rocket systems. Power
electric engines with chemical and
ments.
333
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
21
Kirby W. Hiller
of biology and
technology applied to the fields
Engineering principles and
and biological
diagnostics, treatment, prosthetics,
medicine in the areas of
human circulatory system.
research. Physiology of the
355
PROJECTS IN ROCKETRY
22
James F. Connors
model-rocket launch operations,
Projects in propulsion, electronics,
and tracking.
aerodynamics, payloads and recovery,