Forefathers of Rocketry - Part 1
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History of Rocket Technology
CHAPTER 1 History of Rockets 1. 1. INTRODUCTION Action-Reaction Principle Take any technology and you always find that its practical demonstration had been realized much before the theory was established. However, you may note that the fast and effective refinement of a technology begins only after its theory, explaining the underlying basic principles, has been established. The action-reaction principle that is fundamental to jet propulsion, which includes airbreathing- as well as rocket-propulsion, was theoretically explained only in 1687 by the English scientist Sir Isaac Newton by his famous publication “Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (“Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy”). But, approximately 2100 years before this, Archytas, a Greek philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, statesman, and strategist, had demonstrated the action-reaction principle by his toy pigeon in the city of Tarentum, Fig. 1. 1. Archytas suspended on a wire his wooden pigeon that contained hot steam at an elevated pressure in its belly cavity. The other end of the wire was hooked on to the top of a tall pole. On releasing a plug, a jet of steam escaped through a hole from the rear of the pigeon to produce a thrust that made the toy pigeon fly in circles around the pole. Thus Archytas mystified and amused the citizens of Tarentum by his flying toy- pigeon and demonstrated the fundamental principle of propulsion: “every force has an equal and opposite reaction”. The second recorded-demonstration of the action-reaction principle was in the first century B.C. Hero of Alexandria, a Greek mathematician 1 and scientist, constructed a device known as aeolipile. -
Soviet Steps Toward Permanent Human Presence in Space
SALYUT: Soviet Steps Toward Permanent Human Presence in Space December 1983 NTIS order #PB84-181437 Recommended Citation: SALYUT: Soviet Steps Toward Permanent Human Presence in Space–A Technical Mere- orandum (Washington, D. C.: U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, OTA- TM-STI-14, December 1983). Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 83-600624 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Foreword As the other major spacefaring nation, the Soviet Union is a subject of interest to the American people and Congress in their deliberations concerning the future of U.S. space activities. In the course of an assessment of Civilian Space Stations, the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) has undertaken a study of the presence of Soviets in space and their Salyut space stations, in order to provide Congress with an informed view of Soviet capabilities and intentions. The major element in this technical memorandum was a workshop held at OTA in December 1982: it was the first occasion when a significant number of experts in this area of Soviet space activities had met for extended unclassified discussion. As a result of the workshop, OTA prepared this technical memorandum, “Salyut: Soviet Steps Toward Permanent Human Presence in Space. ” It has been reviewed extensively by workshop participants and others familiar with Soviet space activities. Also in December 1982, OTA wrote to the U. S. S. R.’s Ambassador to the United States Anatoliy Dobrynin, requesting any information concerning present and future Soviet space activities that the Soviet Union judged could be of value to the OTA assess- ment of civilian space stations. -
Global Exploration Roadmap
The Global Exploration Roadmap January 2018 What is New in The Global Exploration Roadmap? This new edition of the Global Exploration robotic space exploration. Refinements in important role in sustainable human space Roadmap reaffirms the interest of 14 space this edition include: exploration. Initially, it supports human and agencies to expand human presence into the robotic lunar exploration in a manner which Solar System, with the surface of Mars as • A summary of the benefits stemming from creates opportunities for multiple sectors to a common driving goal. It reflects a coordi- space exploration. Numerous benefits will advance key goals. nated international effort to prepare for space come from this exciting endeavour. It is • The recognition of the growing private exploration missions beginning with the Inter- important that mission objectives reflect this sector interest in space exploration. national Space Station (ISS) and continuing priority when planning exploration missions. Interest from the private sector is already to the lunar vicinity, the lunar surface, then • The important role of science and knowl- transforming the future of low Earth orbit, on to Mars. The expanded group of agencies edge gain. Open interaction with the creating new opportunities as space agen- demonstrates the growing interest in space international science community helped cies look to expand human presence into exploration and the importance of coopera- identify specific scientific opportunities the Solar System. Growing capability and tion to realise individual and common goals created by the presence of humans and interest from the private sector indicate and objectives. their infrastructure as they explore the Solar a future for collaboration not only among System. -
Appendix Relations with Alien Intelligences – the Scientific Basis of Metalaw1
Appendix Relations with Alien Intelligences – The Scientific Basis of Metalaw1 Ernst Fasan DK 340.114:341.229:2:133 1 The appendix was previously published by Berlin Verlag Arno Spitz in 1970. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 181 P.M. Sterns, L.I. Tennen (eds.), Private Law, Public Law, Metalaw and Public Policy in Space, Space Regulations Library 8, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27087-6 Contents Foreword by Wernher von Braun ����������������������������������������������������������������� 185 Introduction ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 187 I: The Possibility of Encountering Nonhuman Intelligent Beings �������������� 189 Opinions in Ancient Literature ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 189 The Results of Modern Science �������������������������������������������������������������� 191 II: The Physical Nature of Extraterrestrial Beings �������������������������������������� 205 The Necessary Characteristics ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 205 Origin and Development of Protoplasmic Life ��������������������������������������� 209 Intelligent Machines – The Question of Robots �������������������������������������� 210 III: The Concept, Term, and Literature of Metalaw ����������������������������������� 213 Selection and Definition of the Term ����������������������������������������������������������� 213 A Survey of Literature ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� -
Trade Studies Towards an Australian Indigenous Space Launch System
TRADE STUDIES TOWARDS AN AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Engineering by Gordon P. Briggs B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc. (Astron) School of Engineering and Information Technology, University College, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy January 2010 Abstract During the project Apollo moon landings of the mid 1970s the United States of America was the pre-eminent space faring nation followed closely by only the USSR. Since that time many other nations have realised the potential of spaceflight not only for immediate financial gain in areas such as communications and earth observation but also in the strategic areas of scientific discovery, industrial development and national prestige. Australia on the other hand has resolutely refused to participate by instituting its own space program. Successive Australian governments have preferred to obtain any required space hardware or services by purchasing off-the-shelf from foreign suppliers. This policy or attitude is a matter of frustration to those sections of the Australian technical community who believe that the nation should be participating in space technology. In particular the provision of an indigenous launch vehicle that would guarantee the nation independent access to the space frontier. It would therefore appear that any launch vehicle development in Australia will be left to non- government organisations to at least define the requirements for such a vehicle and to initiate development of long-lead items for such a project. It is therefore the aim of this thesis to attempt to define some of the requirements for a nascent Australian indigenous launch vehicle system. -
From the Earth to Outer Space
From the Earth to Outer Space Many years ago, people here on Earth decided that they wanted to go into outer space. This is something people had imagined for a very long time, in books and movies and stories grandparents told to their grandchildren. However, in the 1950s, people decided they really wanted to do it. There was just one problem: how would they get there? One of the earliest movies about flying to the moon was made by Georges Méliès and released in 1902. It was called A Trip to the Moon. In this movie, the moon was made up of a man’s face, covered in cream, and a whole tribe of angry natives lived there. That part was not very realistic. However, the spaceship didn’t seem too far-fetched: it was a small capsule, shaped like a bullet, that the astronauts loaded into a giant cannon and aimed at the moon. This movie was based on a book that came out many years earlier by an author named Jules Verne. One of the fans of the book was a Russian man, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. The book made him think. Could you really shoot people out of a cannon and have them get safely to the moon? He decided you couldn’t, but it got him thinking of other ways you could get people to the moon. He spent his life considering this problem and came up with many solutions. © 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. Some of Tsiolkovsky’s solutions gave scientists in America and Russia (where Tsiolkovsky lived) ideas when they began to think about space travel. -
Past, Present, and Future
Rockets: Past, Present, and Future Robert Goddard With his Original Rocket system Delta IV … biggest commercial Rocket system currently in US arsenal Material from Rockets into Space by Frank H. Winter, ISBN 0-674-77660-7 MAE 5540 - Propulsion Systems Earliest Rockets as weapons • Chinese development, Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1279) – Primarily psychological • William Congreve, England, 1804 – thus “the rockets red glare” during the war of 1812. – 1.5 mile range, very poor accuracy. • V2 in WWII MAE 5540 - Propulsion Systems First Principle of Rocket Flight • “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Isaac Newton, 1687, following Archytas of Tarentum, 360 BC, and Hero of Alexandria, circa 50 AD. • “Rockets move because the flame pushes against the surrounding air.” Edme Mariotte, 1717 • Which one is correct? MAE 5540 - Propulsion Systems Isaac Newton explains how to launch a Satellite MAE 5540 - Propulsion Systems The Reaction-propelled Spaceship of Hermann Ganswindt (1890) • The fuel for his spaceship consisted of heavy steel cartridges with dynamite charges. They were to be fed machine gun style into a reaction chamber where they would fire and be dropped away. • “Shock absorbers protected the travelers” MAE 5540 - Propulsion Systems The Three Amigos of Spaceflight Theory • Konstantin Tsiolkovsky • Hermann Oberth • Robert Goddard • Independent and parallel development of Rocket theory MAE 5540 - Propulsion Systems Three Amigos • Goddard • Oberth • Tsiolkovsky MAE 5540 - Propulsion Systems Konstantin Tsiolkovsky 1857 - 1935 • Deaf Russian School Teacher - fascinated with space flight, started by writing Science Fiction Novels • Discovered that practical space flight depended on liquid fuel rockets in the 1890’s, and developed the fundamental Rocket equation in 1897. -
PAVEL MIKHAILOVICH VOROBIEV May 29, 1998 Interviewers: Mark Davison, Rebecca Wright, Paul Rollins, [Interview Conducted with Interpreter from TTI]
The oral histories placed on this Website are from a few of the many people who worked together to meet the challenges of the Shuttle-Mir Program. The words that you will read are the transcripts from the audio-recorded, personal interviews conducted with each of these individuals. In order to preserve the integrity of their audio record, these histories are presented with limited revisions and reflect the candid conversational style of the oral history format. Brackets or an ellipsis mark will indicate if the text has been annotated or edited to provide the reader a better understanding of the content. Enjoy “hearing” these factual accountings from these people who were among those who were involved in the day-to-day activities of this historic partnership between the United States and Russia. To continue to the Oral History, choose the link below. Go to Oral History PAVEL MIKHAILOVICH VOROBIEV May 29, 1998 Interviewers: Mark Davison, Rebecca Wright, Paul Rollins, [Interview conducted with interpreter from TTI] Davison: Good afternoon. Today is May 29 [1998], and we're interviewing Mr. Pavel Vorobiev, who works in the Cargo and Manifest Scheduling Working Group. Good afternoon. I'm Mark Davison. We met once before in Russia. I don't know if you remember. This is Paul Rollins and Rebecca Wright helping on the audiovisual. Vorobiev: Very nice to meet you. Davison: Nice to see you again, too. Can you tell us about your educational background in Russia, or a little bit about yourself, where you were born, where you grew up? Vorobiev: I am a native of Moscow. -
THE SOVIET MOON PROGRAM in the 1960S, the United States Was Not the Only Country That Was Trying to Land Someone on the Moon and Bring Him Back to Earth Safely
AIAA AEROSPACE M ICRO-LESSON Easily digestible Aerospace Principles revealed for K-12 Students and Educators. These lessons will be sent on a bi-weekly basis and allow grade-level focused learning. - AIAA STEM K-12 Committee. THE SOVIET MOON PROGRAM In the 1960s, the United States was not the only country that was trying to land someone on the Moon and bring him back to Earth safely. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also called the Soviet Union, also had a manned lunar program. This lesson describes some of it. Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): ● Discipline: Engineering Design ● Crosscutting Concept: Systems and System Models ● Science & Engineering Practice: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions GRADES K-2 K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. Have you ever been busy doing something when somebody challenges you to a race? If you decide to join the race—and it is usually up to you whether you join or not—you have to stop what you’re doing, get up, and start racing. By the time you’ve gotten started, the other person is often halfway to the goal. This is the sort of situation the Soviet Union found itself in when President Kennedy in 1961 announced that the United States would set a goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth before the end of the decade. -
Albert Einstein and Wernher Von Braun – the Two Great German-American
Albert Einstein and Wernher von Braun – the two great German-American Physicists seen in a Historical Perspective FRIEDWARDT WINTERBERG, University of Nevada Reno. Abstract It was Albert Einstein who changed our view of the universe to be a non-Euclidean curved space-time. And it was Wernher von Braun who showed how to make the first step to take us into this universe, leaving the gravitational field of our planet earth, with the landing a man on the moon the greatest event in human history. Both these great physicists did this on the shoulders of giants. Albert Einstein on the shoulders of his German landsman Bernhard Riemann, and Wernher von Braun on the shoulders of Goddard and Oberth. Both Einstein and von Braun made a Faustian pact with the devil, von Braun by accepting research funds from Hitler, and Einstein by urging Roosevelt to build the atom bomb (against Hitler). Both of these great men later regretted the use of their work for the killing of innocent bystanders, even though in the end the invention of nuclear energy and space flight is for the benefit of man. Their example serves as a warning for all of us. It can be formulated as follows: “Can I in good conscience accept research funds from the military to advance scientific knowledge, for weapons developed against an abstract enemy I never have met in person?" Weapons if used do not differentiate between the scientist, who invented these weapons, and the non-scientist. In this short essay I will show that there are many surprising parallels in the life of Albert Einstein and Wernher von Braun, the two great German-American physicists who had a decisive influence on the history of the 20th century. -
Now in English! Hermann Oberth: “The Rocket Into Planetary Space”
Now in English! Formats: HardcoverBook eBook (PDF) eBook (EPUB) Print/eBook Hermann Oberth: “The Rocket into Planetary Space” “Under certain economic conditions, the construction of such machines may even become profitable. Such conditions might arise within a few decades. In the present document I intend to prove this statement.” (“Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen”, Hermann Oberth 1923). With this revolutionary statement, physicist Hermann Oberth proved to be one of the most visionary and ingenious pioneers of rocketry. Fundamental and scientifically solid, his ideas were not only comprehensive, but he also conducted meticulous investigations about all possible rocket parameters. His proposals included spacecraft instrumentation for scientific missions, and novel ideas for launch and test facilities. Oberth did not limit himself to robotic rockets, but also looked closely at the various technical, physiological, and psychological problems and challenges that would be encountered with sending humans into space. Fundamental and scientific-technically solid were not only his comprehensive, meticulous investigations and optimization trade-offs of all possible rocket parameters, but also his proposals for spacecraft- instrumentation for manned and scientific missions as well as his novel ideas for launch- and test facilities. Oberth’s “Outlook” (§17) provides a prophetic “blue-print” of the many space applications which followed in the years to come and culminated in the implementation of today’s permanent manned space station which followed Hermann Oberth’s conceptual descriptions very closely. The book, thoroughly and expertly translated and now first published in English allows also all non- German readers to go back to the beginning, appreciate the problems associated with space travel and understand the never ending quest for space exploration. -
A Pictorial History of Rockets
he mighty space rockets of today are the result A Pictorial Tof more than 2,000 years of invention, experi- mentation, and discovery. First by observation and inspiration and then by methodical research, the History of foundations for modern rocketry were laid. Rockets Building upon the experience of two millennia, new rockets will expand human presence in space back to the Moon and Mars. These new rockets will be versatile. They will support Earth orbital missions, such as the International Space Station, and off- world missions millions of kilometers from home. Already, travel to the stars is possible. Robotic spacecraft are on their way into interstellar space as you read this. Someday, they will be followed by human explorers. Often lost in the shadows of time, early rocket pioneers “pushed the envelope” by creating rocket- propelled devices for land, sea, air, and space. When the scientific principles governing motion were discovered, rockets graduated from toys and novelties to serious devices for commerce, war, travel, and research. This work led to many of the most amazing discoveries of our time. The vignettes that follow provide a small sampling of stories from the history of rockets. They form a rocket time line that includes critical developments and interesting sidelines. In some cases, one story leads to another, and in others, the stories are inter- esting diversions from the path. They portray the inspirations that ultimately led to us taking our first steps into outer space. NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS), commercial launch systems, and the rockets that follow owe much of their success to the accomplishments presented here.