Lecture

Spacecraft Launch Sequence and Attitude Control

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Description

This lecture covers the detailed pre-lift-off sequence and ascent profile of the Falcon 9 rocket with Crew Dragon, including the liftoff to orbit, stage separations, and landing procedures. It also delves into attitude measurement and control systems, explaining the need for precise orientation control in space missions using various coordinate systems. The lecture further explores different methods of spacecraft attitude control, such as passive and active systems, including gravity gradient, thrusters, spinning spacecraft, and magnetic torquers. Additionally, it discusses the importance of accurate attitude control for different spacecraft components like solar arrays and high gain antennas.

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering: Spacecrafts

Related concepts (32)

Falcon 9

Falcon 9 is a partially reusable medium-lift launch vehicle that can carry cargo and crew into Earth orbit, designed, manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX. It can also be used as an expendable heavy-lift launch vehicle. The first Falcon 9 launch was in June 2010. The first Falcon 9 ISS commercial resupply mission to the ISS launched on 8 October 2012. In 2020 it became the first commercial rocket to ever launch humans to orbit and is currently the only such vehicle capable of doing so.

Spacecraft

A spacecraft (: spacecraft) is a vehicle that is designed to fly in outer space and operate there. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, planetary exploration, and transportation of humans and cargo. All spacecraft except single-stage-to-orbit vehicles cannot get into space on their own, and require a launch vehicle (carrier rocket).

Falcon 9 Full Thrust

Falcon 9 Full Thrust (also known as Falcon 9 v1.2, with variants Block 1 to Block 5) is a partially reusable medium-lift launch vehicle, designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Designed in 2014–2015, Falcon 9 Full Thrust began launch operations in December 2015. As of , Falcon 9 Full Thrust had performed launches without any failures. Based on the Lewis point estimate of reliability, this rocket is the most reliable orbital launch vehicle currently in operation.

Uncrewed spacecraft

Robotic spacecraft or uncrewed spacecraft are spacecraft without people on board. Uncrewed spacecraft may have varying levels of autonomy from human input; they may be remote controlled, remote guided or autonomous: they have a pre-programmed list of operations, which they will execute unless otherwise instructed. A robotic spacecraft for scientific measurements is often called a space probe or space observatory. Many space missions are more suited to telerobotic rather than crewed operation, due to lower cost and risk factors.

Falcon 9 flight 20

Falcon 9 flight 20 (also known as Orbcomm OG2 M2) was a Falcon 9 space launch that occurred on 22 December 2015 at 01:29:00 UTC (21 December, 8:29:00 pm local time). It was the first time that the first stage of an orbital rocket made a successful return and vertical landing. The successful landing of the first stage at Landing Zone 1, near the launch site, was the result of a five-year technology development program to develop a reusable launch system and came on a flight test that followed the primary launch mission.

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