Introduction to Rocket Science and Space Exploration

249 Pages·2022·40.318 MB·English

by  A. Sivathanu Pillai

Introduction to Rocket Science
and Space Exploration
The growing demand of space services for imaging, mobile communication, global
positioning systems and disaster management, life extension of satellites by fueling,
space station operations, deflecting incoming asteroids, and reducing debris from
orbits, requires reusable rockets. The chapters in the book cover understanding of
the universe, history of rockets, space missions, satellites, the principle of rocketry,
its design and development, rocket technology, the solar system, the environment
and protection of earth, and thoughts on Earth 2.0.
Features:
• Explores the link between the universe, space exploration, and rocketry.
• Discusses topics such as protection of the Earth from asteroids, debris, and
global warming.
• Includes basic methodology to be adopted to design rockets for various
applications.
• Covers use of multi-objective optimisation to realise a system and differences
in design philosophies for satellite launch.
• Examines material on environmental protection of the Earth.
This book is aimed at senior undergraduates and professionals in aerospace
engineering.

Introduction to Rocket
Science and Space
Exploration
A. Sivathanu Pillai
Designed cover image: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is the workhorse rocket of the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO), for injecting 1000 kg class earth observation and
navigation satellites in near earth or polar orbits. More than 50 successful launches have
taken place from Sriharikota Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
First edition published 2023
by CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
and by CRC Press
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
© 2023 A. Sivathanu Pillai
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ISBN: 978-1-032-34697-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-34698-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-32339-6 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781003323396
Typeset in Times
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
Dedication
This book is dedicated to
my three great teachers,
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai,
Prof. Satish Dhawan,
and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
and to all those space pioneers and technologists
of the world.

Contents
About the Author.....................................................................................................xv
Foreword................................................................................................................xvii
Preface.....................................................................................................................xix
Acknowledgements.................................................................................................xxi
Chapter 1 Introduction..........................................................................................1
Chapter 2 Origin of the Universe........................................................................3
Verse from the Ancient India.............................................................3
Hindu Puranas......................................................................................5
Great Indian Saints (Scientists)...........................................................6
Emerging New Scientific Thoughts on the Universe.........................8
General Theory of Relativity......................................................9
Einstein’s Equations..................................................................10
Proving Einstein’s Theory.........................................................12
Proved Einstein’s Theories........................................................12
Gravitational Lensing................................................................13
Gravitational Waves..................................................................13
Cosmology.................................................................................13
Big Bang Theory.......................................................................14
CERN – Finding the GOD Particle..........................................14
Universe after BIG BANG........................................................15
The Redshift – Our Expanding Universe.................................16
Fundamental Physical Forces....................................................17
Gravity.......................................................................................18
Electromagnetic Force...............................................................18
The Weak Nuclear Force..........................................................19
The Strong Nuclear Force.........................................................19
Unifying Nature.........................................................................19
Braneworld.................................................................................20
Muons................................................................................................20
String Theory.............................................................................20
Stellar Evolution – Lifecycle of a Star.....................................21
Black Hole.................................................................................22
Dark Energy and Dark Matter..................................................25
What the Universe Is Made Of..........................................25
Dark Energy...............................................................................25
Background to Dark Energy..............................................26
Burst of Supernova....................................................................26
The Dynamics of Universe – It Will Never Shrink.................28
vii
viii Contents
New Dimension.........................................................................28
Dark Matter................................................................................28
Multi-Universe...........................................................................30
Milkyway and Solar System.............................................................31
Solar System and Planets..................................................................32
KEPLER’S LAWS – Orbits of Planets....................................32
The Blue Dot – The Earth........................................................34
Origin of Earth..................................................................................35
Life on Earth..............................................................................37
Future of Earth..................................................................................39
Exoplanets..........................................................................................40
Data to Remember.............................................................................40
Chapter 3 Brief History of Rockets...................................................................41
Early Understanding..........................................................................41
Chinese Fire Arrows..................................................................42
First Metal Rockets from India.........................................................42
Birth of Modern Rocketry.................................................................44
Pioneer of Cosmonautics: Equation..........................................44
Early Rocket Designs................................................................44
Tsiolkovsky, the Father of Astronautics...........................................45
Tsiolkovsky’s Rocket Equation................................................45
Robert H Goddard (1882–1945).......................................................47
Hermann Oberth (1894–1989)..........................................................49
Space Odyssey...................................................................................51
Orbiting Satellite........................................................................51
Yuri Gagarin..............................................................................53
Man on Moon....................................................................................54
Space Shuttle.....................................................................................55
Space Stations....................................................................................55
China’s Tiangong Space Station.......................................................56
Satellites in Brief (Details in Separate Chapter)..............................56
Earth Observation Satellites......................................................56
Communication, Navigation......................................................56
Satellite Launch Vehicles..........................................................57
ISRO..................................................................................................57
Launch Vehicles of the World..........................................................58
World Rockets at a Glance...............................................................61
Chapter 4 Rocket Principles...............................................................................63
What Is a Rocket? Basic Rocket Science........................................63
Principle.............................................................................................63
Newton’s Laws of Motion................................................................65
Newton’s First Law – “The Law of Inertia”............................65
Newton’s Second Law – “F = ma”..........................................66
Contents ix
Newton’s Third Law – “The Law of Action and Reaction”...68
Forces on a Rocket during Initial Flight..........................................68
Centre of Gravity and Centre of Pressure................................69
The Rocket Equation.........................................................................70
Thrust of Rocket........................................................................70
Acceleration...............................................................................72
Total Impulse.............................................................................73
Specific Impulse........................................................................73
Incremental Velocity – The Ideal Rocket Equation
(ref. NASA)..................................................................................74
Valid Assumptions for an Ideal Rocket............................77
Staging/Multistage Rockets...............................................................78
Chapter 5 Rocket Systems Development..........................................................81
Rocket Subsystems and Components...............................................81
Propulsion..........................................................................................83
Solid Propellant Rocket.............................................................83
Large Solid Propellant Booster.................................................83
Burn Rate...................................................................................85
Liquid Propellant Rockets.........................................................87
Pressure-Fed System...........................................................88
Types of Liquid Propulsion......................................................89
Cryogenic Rocket Engines (LOX +LH2).........................................90
Semi-cryogenic Rocket Engines...............................................92
ISRO Semi-cryogenic Engine (SCE-200)................................93
Liquid Ramjet Propulsion.................................................................96
Supersonic-Combustion Ramjet (Scramjet)..............................98
Scramjet Research.....................................................................99
Mach Number vs. Specific Impulse................................................100
Re-usability of Booster............................................................100
Structure...........................................................................................101
Mass Fraction..................................................................................101
Materials..........................................................................................103
Upper Stages....................................................................................104
Casing for Liquid Propellant Stages...............................................105
Aluminam-Lithium Casing for Falcon 9 (2010)....................105
Control System................................................................................105
Types of Control......................................................................106
Different Types of Controls............................................................107
Control for PSLV Type LV....................................................109
Satellite Attitude Control................................................................109
Flex Nozzle..............................................................................109
Navigation and Guidance................................................................110
Function...........................................................................................111
Inertial Guidance System................................................................111