That One Small Step

2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (10) ◽  
pp. 62-69
Author(s):  
Benedict J. Gaylo
Keyword(s):  
Motion Picture ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Lunar Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Small Step ◽  
Lunar Landing ◽  
Apollo Mission ◽  
Bus Voltage ◽  
Fair Degree

This article highlights that three approaches for the Apollo mission were considered and investigated early in the program: direct ascent, Earth orbit rendezvous, and lunar orbit rendezvous. Direct ascent would entail a direct shot from Earth to the moon, requiring an enormous rocket assembly, named the Nova rocket that required 15 first stage engines and would dwarf the Saturn V eventually selected as the launch vehicle. It also required a massive lunar landing vehicle to return the astronauts from the moon directly to Earth. At liftoff, the first stage burned 15 tons of fuel a second, requiring approximately 50,000 horsepower to power the fuel pumps to feed the engines. The Apollo 13 movie followed the actual flight with a fair degree of accuracy, recognizing that it had to compress four days of real-life tension into a two-hour motion picture. The film dramatized the explosion of the oxygen tank by showing the astronauts being thrown about in the cabin. In reality, the astronauts only heard a bang and then the warning alarm for low electrical bus voltage.

One Step Back, One Giant Leap Forward

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (05) ◽  
pp. 27-31
Author(s):  
John F. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Space Exploration ◽  
Lunar Orbit ◽  
Heat Shield ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Velocity Change ◽  
Lunar Landing ◽  
Lift Capacity ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Giant Leap ◽  
One Step

This paper describes the vision for Space Exploration that would return humans to the moon by 2020. Creating architecture for returning humans to the moon requires the comprehension of the physics of spaceflight, knowledge of the hardware that can realize the physics, and an understanding of how these many parts interact and interconnect. The NASA team concluded early in its study that the direct–direct mode would be possible only if a single launch vehicle approaching twice the lift capacity of the Saturn V were available. The three mission modes were compared as higher levels of technology were engaged. The key was to find a workable architecture that involved the least amount of mass. The direct return mission that involved no operations in lunar orbit seems to be the least operationally complex, but it tends to be the least efficient because it moves the largest mass-including the Earth-entry heat shield- the entire velocity change of lunar landing and ascent.

scholarly journals The Lunar orbit paradox

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-146
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Tomic
Keyword(s):  
Inertial Mass ◽  
Lunar Orbit ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Three Body ◽  
Origin Of The Moon ◽  
Force Intensity ◽  
Critical Consideration

Newton's formula for gravity force gives greather force intensity for atraction of the Moon by the Sun than atraction by the Earth. However, central body in lunar (primary) orbit is the Earth. So appeared paradox which were ignored from competent specialist, because the most important problem, determination of lunar orbit, was inmediately solved sufficiently by mathematical ingeniosity - introducing the Sun as dominant body in the three body system by Delaunay, 1860. On this way the lunar orbit paradox were not canceled. Vujicic made a owerview of principles of mechanics in year 1998, in critical consideration. As an example for application of corrected procedure he was obtained gravity law in some different form, which gave possibility to cancel paradox of lunar orbit. The formula of Vujicic, with our small adaptation, content two type of acceleration - related to inertial mass and related to gravity mass. So appears carried information on the origin of the Moon, and paradox cancels.

Space tourism: From Earth orbit to the Moon

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Collins
Keyword(s):  
Earth Orbit ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Space Tourism

scholarly journals ALEXIS Lunar Observations

1996 ◽  
Vol 152 ◽  
pp. 465-470
Author(s):  
B.C. Edwards ◽  
J.J. Bloch ◽  
D. Roussel-Dupré ◽  
T.E. Pfafman ◽  
Sean Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Lunar Orbit ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Small Satellite ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Lunar Observations ◽  
Night Sky

The ALEXIS small satellite was designed as a large area monitor operating at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths (130 − 190 Å). At these energies, the moon is the brightest object in the night sky and was the first source identified in the ALEXIS data. Due to the design of ALEXIS and the lunar orbit, the moon is observed for two weeks of every month. Since lunar emissions in the extreme ultraviolet are primarily reflected solar radiation these observations may be useful as a solar monitor in the extreme ultraviolet. The data show distinct temporal and spectral variations indicating similar changes in the solar spectrum. We will present a preliminary dataset of lunar observations and discussions covering the variations observed and how they relate to the solar spectrum.

scholarly journals Aperture Synthesis imaging from the Moon

1991 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 420-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack O. Burns
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Aperture Synthesis ◽  
Lunar Orbit ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Optical Interferometer ◽  
Very Low Frequency

AbstractFour candidate imaging aperture synthesis concepts are described for possible emplacement on the Moon beginning in the next decade. These include an optical interferometer with 10 μarcsec resolution, a submillimeter array with 6 milliarcsec resolution, a Moon- Earth VLBI experiment, and a very low frequency interferometer in lunar orbit.

scholarly journals Advanced Technology Lunar Astronomy Mission, the Moon as an Immense Optical Bench in Vacuum

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 990-991
Author(s):  
Peter C. Chen ◽  
Yoji Kondo ◽  
Ronald J. Oliversen
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Optical Bench ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Atmospheric Absorption ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Small Telescope ◽  
Apollo Mission ◽  
Primary Obstacle

The Moon combines some of the most attractive features for astronomical observations from space (no atmospheric absorption, perfect seeing, etc.) and those from ground (large steady optical bench, ease of control from Earth, etc.). Astronomers have planned for telescopes on the Moon for decades but, due to its primary obstacle – high cost – they have not yet been built, save one small telescope that was carried to the Moon on an Apollo mission.

scholarly journals Satellite Forensics: Analysing Sparse Beacon Data to Reveal the Fate of DTUsat-2

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
René W. Fléron
Keyword(s):  
Bird Migration ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Forensic Investigation ◽  
Life Data ◽  
Migration Research ◽  
Real Life Data ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Observed Behaviour

The CubeSat DTUsat-2 was designed and built by students and faculty at the Technical University of Denmark and launched to low earth orbit on June 2014. Its mission was to aid ornithologists in bird migration research. Shortly after launch and orbit injection, it became apparent that all was not nominal. To understand the problem and find the causes, a forensic investigation was initiated. The investigation used recorded Morse-encoded beacons emitted by the satellite as a starting point. This paper presents the real-life data from DTUsat-2 on orbit and the methodologies used to visualize the key element in the investigation, namely, the correlation between orbit position and the beacon counter. Based on the data presented, an explanation for the observed behaviour of DTUsat-2 is given.

scholarly journals Multi-Level Challenges in a Long-Term Human Space Program. The Case of Manned Mission to Mars

Studia Humana ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-30
Author(s):  
Konrad Szocik ◽  
Bartłomiej Tkacz
Keyword(s):  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Program ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Human History ◽  
Deep Space ◽  
Space Programs ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
First Time ◽  
Space Settlement

Abstract Yuri Gagarin has started the first time in human history the manned mission in space when his Vostok aircraft successfully achieved Earth orbit in 1961. Since his times, human space programs did not develop too much, and the biggest achievement still remain landing on the Moon. Despite this stagnation, there are serious plans to launch manned mission to Mars including human space settlement. In out paper, we are going to identify and discuss a couple of challenges that – in our opinion – will be a domain of every human deep-space program.

NASA sets sights on private space stations

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Private Space ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Space ◽  
Foreign Governments ◽  
Corporate Clients

Subject Space stations. Significance As Washington returns its sights to the moon, it is reforming its policies regarding the International Space Station (ISS) with a view to jump-starting a 'low-earth orbit economy' in which private firms offer services to corporate clients, foreign governments and wealthy individuals. Impacts China's space station, due for completion in 2022, could draw third-country projects away from commercial US space stations. Governments are more promising clients for commercial crewed spaceflight than 'space tourists' are. Commercial stations and passenger spacecraft could make human spaceflight accessible to allied states. Spaceflight will remain politicised.

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