UNIT-1

SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES

TYPES
1. EXPANDABLE
2. REUSABLE
 TYPES OF MISSILES
TINY MODELS
SPACE PROBES
ROCKET TORPEDOS
ROCKET POWERED AIRCRAFT
ROCKET CARS
E.T.C.,
 Types of launch vehicles based on
Launch plaot form :
Land: space craft & fixed missile silo
(sterela) for converted ICMBs
Sea: fixed platform (san marco), mobile plotform (sea launch), submarine
for converted SLBMs
Air: Aircraft, balloon,

By size:
Many ways to classify the sizes of launch vehicles
small, medium, heavy lift launch vehicles
 MISSION
To insert a specified payload into a specified
orbit to the reqd tolerances with
cost,
reliability,
operability and
scheduled reqmnts
Mission proflie
 Thrust profile
It is the force that propels a rocket or space craft and is
measured in pound s,kg or Newton
Physically speaking it is the result of pressure which is exerted
on the wall of the combustion chamber and the rate of thrust
graph is called thrust profile
The simplest thrust profile comes from linear burning of a
cylindrical grain a constant brining area produces constant
thrust
 payload
It is the carrying capacity of an A/C or space ship,
including cargo, scientific instruments or experiments
e,t,c,.,
The fraction of payload to the lift off weight of the air
or spacecraft is known as payload fraction
When the weight of the payload & fuel are considered
together it is known as useful load fraction
 Top line represents the max
payload and limited structurally
by maximum zero fuel
weight(MZFW)
Max payload is the diff between
MZFW and operational empty
weight (OEW)
Left to right along the line shows
constant max payload as the range
increases
Vertical line shows the range at
which the combined weight of the
A/C or launch vehicle, max
payload and needed fuel reaches
the max take off weight(MTOW)
 Staging
A basic approach to the launch vehicle design, first suggested
by konstantin tsiolkovsky is to divide the vehicle into stages
First stage is the heaviest part of the vehicle and has largets
rocket engines, the largest fuel and oxidizer tanks and the
highest thrust which is essential to overcome the earths gravity
and thus lift the total weight of the vehicle and its payload off
the earth
Second stage own rocket engines ans propellants, continues to
accelarate the vehicle
Most expandable launch vehicles are of two or three stages
Control and guidance requirements
Space craft is guided and controlled by the two
interrelated sub systems
1. Guidance and 2. navigation system
The two systems provide rotational, line off
flight and rate of speed information
Both systems contains inertial , optical and
computer subsystems
 Performance measures
Laeson & wertz preset several classical performance measures used to
evaluate the effectiveness of orbit candidates
The area access rate is the rate at which land enetrs or leaves the access
area
Overlap area: area on the sphere that can be viewed
simultaneously by all satellites in the formation
Separation area: region enclosed by the outermost sub-satellite
It is developed as a conflict measure to overlap area is small
As separations increase the separation also increases
 Orbit performance measures

We desire measure that allow comparision of candiadfte for

the satellites in formation
strategy takes a measure of the instantaneous relative positions
of a formation and integrate the measure over a period
As separation of the formation increases the overlap area
decreases and the separation area increases
The conflicting nature of the area measures can be utilized ion
an orbit performanace measures
Design and construction of military
missile
 Key drivers in missile design and
engineering
Aerodynamic considerations
Propulsion consideration
Weight considerations
Flight performance considerations
Measure of merit and launch platform
integration
 Design process
Require ments process
Design
Build
Systems integration
operations
 Design and construction of space launch vehicles

Engineering challenges
Design and management considferation s
Interactions
Failure to meet technology
Project requirements
Performanace
Cost
Reliability
Operability
Safety
Schedule
 Similarities and operations

Both carry roughly same amount of payload

and propellants
Engines of both provide nearly same thrust 92-
4 stages involved)
 Some famous launch vehicles
Avatar spacecraft
Geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle
(GSLV)
Polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV)
Satellite launch vehicle
 UNIT-II
SOLID
PROPELLANT
ROCKET
MOTORS
 propellants
Double base propellants: the most important homogeneous
propellant is the double base.
Invented in 1988 by nobel and has a since been gun powder
Mostly consists od nitrocellulose- which consists of cellulose-
nitrate nitro glycerene
Ng ans nc both combine oxidizer and fule in one molecule
Composite propellantst:
Usually form of an organic fuel or binder, plastic or rubber in
most cases
Most propellants are ammonium perchlorate and ammonium
nitrate and potassium perchliorate
 Solid Rocket Motors
A solid rocket motor is a system that uses solid
propellants to produce thrust
Advantages
High thrust
Simple
Storability
High density Isp
Disadvantages
Low Isp (compared to liquids)
Complex throttling
Difficult to stop and restart
Safety
 Solid Rocket Motors
Solid rocket motors are used for
Launch vehicles
High thrust (high F/W ratio)
High storage density
Ballistic Missiles
Propellant storability
Excellent aging
Quick response
storability
high F/W ratio)
Solid Rocket Motor Components
 Thermal Insulation
Design involves:
Analysis of combustion chamber environment
Stagnation temperature
Stagnation pressure
Propellant gases (material compatibility)
Selection of insulation material
Material thickness determination for various areas
of the motor case
For the cylindrical part of the case, the walls are
only exposed to hot combustion gases at the end
of the burn
 The Nozzle
The design of the nozzle follows similar steps
as for other thermodynamic rockets
Throat area determined by desired stagnation
pressure and thrust level
Expansion ratio determined by ambient pressure or
pressure range to allow maximum efficiency
Major difference for solid propellant nozzles is
the technique used for cooling
Ablation
Fiber reinforced material used in and near the
nozzle throat (carbon, graphite, silica, phenolic)
 Types of nozzles
Fixed
Movable
Submerged
Extendible
Blast tube mounted
 Nozzle thermal protection
Nozzle and throat are protectes from the haeat of the exhaust
by using similar techniques to those used to protect the casing,
here the problem is more severe bcoz of high velocity of
exhaust gases
Ablation heat diffusion inot he heat sink and the thermally
insulating properties of the throat lining keep the steel cool
long enough to do its job
A heat sink is also used at the throat 8to reduce the transfer of
heat to steel structure
types
 MOTOR CASE
MATERIALS
FILAMENTS: E-GLASS, ARAMID(KEVLAR 49),
CARBON FIBRE OR GRAPHITE,

FILAMENT REINFORCED(_COMPOSITE MATERIAL):

E-GLASS, KEVLAR 49, GRAPHIOTE tm,

Metals: titanium alloy, alloy steel(heat traeted). Aluminium

alloy 2024(heat treated)
Propellant Grain & grain configuration
Two main catagories
Double Base: A homogeneous propellant grain,
usually nitrocellulose dissolved in nitroglycerin.
Both ingredients are explosive and act as a
combined fuel, oxidizer and binder
Composite: A heterogeneous propellant grain with
oxidizer crystals and powdered fuel held together
in a matrix of synthetic rubber binder.
Less hazardous to manufacture and handle
Grain structure
Pyrotechnic igniter
Pyrogen igniter
 OUT LINE FOR LIQUID
PROPELLANT ROCKET ENGINE
 LIQUID PROPELLANTS
Mono propellants and bi propellants
Monergols: mono propellants belongs to such
explosives as nitroglycerine, piric acid,
trinitratrotolune,
Katergols: well known Katergols is applied to
a liquid monopropellant system
concentrated hydrogen peroxide,
Lithergols
 Bipropellants
Diergols: utilizes a liquid oxidizer and a liquid
fuel which are when mixed together called
diergolsfuming nitric acid, liquid oxygen,
ethonal

Hypergols: oxidant and fule which is self igniting

when its components are bought in contact with
each other is called hypergolic combination
 Other propellants like
Liquid
Gelled
Gaseous
 PROPELLANT PROPERTIES
Economic Factors
Performance of Propellants
Common Physical Hazards
Corrosion.
Explosion Hazard.
Fire Hazard.
Accidental Spills.
Health Hazards.
Material Compatibility.
Desirable Physical Properties:
Low freezing pouint
High specific gravity
Stability
Heat transfer properties
Pumping properties
Temperature variation
 Ignition , combustion and flame properties

Property variations and specifications

additive
Propellant tanks
Tank pressurization
 Engine cooling/ cooling of liquid
engines
Cooling is necessary mainly from strength considerations
Types: active and passive cooling
Active cooling methods are forced convention heat transport , as to actively
cool the hot spots
Active cooling systems : regenarative
film
transportation
dump cooling
Passive cooling systems do not make use of a special heat transport system but
are designed such that during motor operation they prevent structural parts
becoming too hot
Passive cooling systems are : insulation
heat sink
ablative
radiation
 UNIT-4
AERODYNAMICS OF
ROCKETS AND MISSILES
Classification of missiles
Airframe components of rockets and
missiles
Aerodynamic forces and moments
The forces of pressure
and friction acting on
the surface of the body
can be reduced to a
resultant R of these
forces, called the
aerodynamic force and a
pair of forces having a
moment M, which is
called the aerodynamic
moment
Lift and drag forces
 On an airplane the lift force (the aerodynamic
force perpendicular to the flight direction) is used
to overcome the weight on a rocket thrust is used
in opposite to weight on many rockets , lift is
used to stabilize and control the direction of flight
On airplane , most of the aerodynamuic forces are
generated by the wings and the tail surfaces for
both aiaplane and rocket ,the aerodynamic forces
act through the centre of the pressure while the
weight acts through the centre of the gravity
Drag estimation
 Atmospheric entry is the
movement of human
made or natural objects
as they enter the
atmosphere of celestial
body from outer space
in the case of earth from
an altitude above the
known line -100km
 Design typically considers two worst case trajectories
Undershoot trajectory: defined by the steepest allowable trajectory for
manned missions the steepest entry angle in limited by the peak
deceleration
this trajectory has the highest heat flux and therefore defines selection of
the TPS material
Overshoot trajectory: defined as the shallowest allowable entry velocity
angle prior to atmosphere skip-off
the overshoot trajectory has the highest heat load and sets the TPS
thickness
Peak heat flux: selects the TPS(thermal protection system material )
Heat loads: selects the thickness of the TPS material stack
Peak deceleration major importance for manned missions
Peak dynamic pressure: also influence the selection of the outer most TPS
material if spallation is an issue
Moments of rocket
Downwash and Upwash
aeronautics downwash is the
change in direction of air
deflected by the aerodynamic
action of
an airfoil, wing or helicopter rotor
blade in motion, as part of the
process of producing lift.
Upwash is the relative laminar
airflow blowing from underneath
the wing which at the trailing
edge moves upwards where as
downwash is the laminar airflow
blowing from the top of the wing
moving downwards at the end of
the trailing edge,when they meet
with each other ,it gives rise to
vortices or eddis.
 UNIT-6
ATTITUDE CONTORL OF
ROCKETS AND MISSILES
 ROCKET THRUST VECTOR
CONTROL METHODS
THRUST VECTOR FOR SOLID
PROPULSION SYSTEM
THRUST VECTOR FOR LIQUID
PROPULSION SYSTEM
 THRUST MAGNITUDE CONTROL
TMC ALLOWS FOR LARGE THRUST VARIAATIONS WITH SMALL
VARIATION IN CHAMBER PRESSURE
SOME LIQUID PROPELLANTS-TMS USED WITH OUT VARYING
THE THROAT AREA BY REDUCING THE MASS FLOW INTO THE
CHAMBER
WHICH RESULTS IN CHAMBER PRESSURE REDUCE DUE TO
REDUCTION IN MASS FLOW
TWO SYSTEMS WITH OUT ADVERSE EFFECTS
ONE IS TRANSLATING INLET AND OTHER PINTLE NOZZLE
 THRUST TERMINATION
IT IS DESIRABLE BCOZ DELIVERED
IMPULSE CANNOT BE PREDICTED
EXACTLY
IT DEPENDS ON THE TEMPERATURE OF
THE GRAIN
IT ALLOWS A SPACECRAFT TO
MEASURE VELOCITY GAINED AND
SHUTDOWN WHEN THE DESIRED
VELICITY IS REACHED
Demonstrated thrust termination
methods
ACTION Result

Venting forward ports Balance thrust/ reduce

pressure

Chamber destruction Reduced chamber pressure

Liquid quenching Extinguish flame

Nozzle ejection Reduced chamber pressure

 Selection of stage seperation systems
It is an extensive and exhaustive process for selection of the
stages seperation systems for launch vehicle
It is primarily goverened by system requirements
Reliability
Joint rotation
Low shock levels
Weight
Cost
Selected seperation systems also meet
all the functional requirements namely
Serve the structural connection
Impact minimum tip off rate to ongoing stage
No damage due to contamination for the
contuing stages
Min shock transmission to the payload
interfaces or the continuing stages
 Stage separation of space launch
vehicles
Stage separation
Strap on separation
Ullage rocket separation
Space craft separation
Forces and moments
gravity , retro/ullage rockets
Tail of thrust, jet damping
Release and jettisioning mechanisms e,t,c.,
 Separation elements
Actuator: word indicates the triggering of the separation events
usually actuators are either electric or pyro based
Severence/release mechanisms: mechanical systems and pyro
technique devices
Design reqmts: minimum system weight and minimum voume
high reliability, maintainability and
long storage life
safe handling and easy
tyransportation
 Jettisioning devices
Used to provide the reqd relative separation
velocity to the separating bodies
Energy reqd for jettisioning the systems are
provide by employing any one of the thrusters
1. Spring thrusters
2. Pneumatic
3. Rocket thrusters
 UNIT-7
ROCKET TESTING
 Types of testing
Manufacturing
Component testing
Static rocket testing
- partial
-complete propulsuion system tsest
Static vehicle tetsing
Flight tests
Research and developemet
Evaluation
Production and quality assurance of rocket propulsion system
 Test facilities and safegaurds
A test cell or test bay where the article to be tested is mounted
An instrumentation systems with associated computers for
sensing, maintaining, measuring, analyzing, correcting, and
recording various physical and chemical paramaeters
A control; for handling havey or awkward assemblies
supplying liquid propellants and providing mainatenance
security and safety
In some tests specialiazed test equipment and unique facilities
Are needed to conduct static testing under different
environmental conditions or under simulated emergency
conditions
 Monitoring and control of toxic
materials
In ground test the toxic cloud source is treated as a point
source and in flight tests it is a ribbon source
A highly stable atmospheric condition tends to keep the
exhaust plumes or cloud intact and away from the earths
surface except when the exhaust products are much heavier
than the surrounding air
For short firings <500sec the approx dosage downwind are
about the same as from an instrumentation point source
High wind increases the rate of diffudsion and raduces the
thermal effects
 Instrumentation and data
management
Forces
Flows
Pressures
Temperatures
Timnings
Stresses, strauins,vibrations
Time sequence of events
Movement and position parts
Voltages , frequencies and currents in electrical or control sub systems
Visual observations using high speed cameras or video camearos
Spacial quantities such as turbopump shaft speed, liquid levels in propellant
tank, burnuing rates, flame luminosity, or exhaust gas composition