Ion Thrusters – What They Are And How They Work
With so much focus on rocket fuels like hydrogen and new alternatives like liquid methane, it is hard to believe that an advanced form of propulsion known as ion thrusters…
The Types Of Orbits Satellites And Spacecraft Follow Around Celestial Bodies
Most satellites and spacecraft, whether they are orbiting Earth at an altitude of a few hundred miles, or exploring Saturn 886 million miles away, will enter a specific type of…
Why And How Rocket Fuel Tanks Are Pressurized
In 2016, Falcon 9 rocket unexpectedly exploded on the launchpad due to a breach in the helium system used to pressurize the liquid propellant tanks, raising the question of why…
Why Rockets Perform An Engine Chill Before Launch
While watching a live rocket launch, one may often hear the callout “Engine chill has started,” which forms part of a long list of prelaunch procedures during an orbital launch…
Using Hypergolic Rocket Fuel – Benefits And Drawbacks
When thinking of liquid rocket propellants, one often thinks of RP-1, liquid hydrogen, or methane. But another liquid propellant known as hypergolic fuel has been used for decades in spaceflight…
How Rockets Are Reused To Make Spaceflight More Affordable
During the late 20th Century, rockets were mostly considered expendable & reusability was not a priority. Since the turn of the Century & private space companies entered the arena, cost…
Why Orbital Rockets Are White
Most orbital rockets, from the Saturn V that carried astronauts to the Moon in the 1960s to a modern Falcon 9 or Ariane 5 launch vehicle, are primarily covered in…
How Cryogenic Fuels Are Kept Cold Before And During A Rocket Launch
Most liquid rocket propellants like hydrogen, methane & liquid oxygen are cryogenic, which means they need to be stored at freezing temperatures to remain in a liquid state. This poses…
The Purpose Of A Flame Trench At A Rocket Launch Site
Observant viewers of orbital rocket launches would have noticed that the exhaust plumes generated by the launch vehicle on the launchpad expand horizontally before billowing up into the air. It’s…
Rocket Payload Fairings – What They Are And How They Work
Regular viewers of rocket launches streamed online by companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab may have seen two objects ejected from the rocket shortly after second-stage ignition. They are called…