Spacecraft Classifications Lecture Notes PDF

# Spacecraft Classifications ## Crewed Spacecrafts ### Introduction - **Spacecraft** is any object launched into space. For example, Earth-orbiting satellites, space probes, and space capsules. - **A spacecraft** is a vehicle that is designed to fly in outer space and operate there. - **Spacecraf...

# Spacecraft Classifications ## Crewed Spacecrafts ### Introduction - **Spacecraft** is any object launched into space. For example, Earth-orbiting satellites, space probes, and space capsules. - **A spacecraft** is a vehicle that is designed to fly in outer space and operate there. - **Spacecrafts** are used for many purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, planetary exploration, and transportation of humans and cargo. ### First Spacecraft - The first ever launched spacecraft was the **Sputnik 1 satellite**. It was launched by the Soviet Union (USSR) in October 1957. ## Launch Vehicle (LV) - All spacecraft (except single-stage-to-orbit vehicles) cannot get into space on their own and require a launch vehicle (carrier rocket). - **Launch vehicle (LV)** is a vehicle capable of transporting people and cargo beyond the Earth's atmosphere. - **LV** is launched from the surface of the Earth and typically takes off from launch pads at spaceports - **LV** is divided into two or more parts that are separated during the flight journey. - The upper part contains the payload covered by the fairing. ## Spacecrafts Classifications - **Spacecrafts** are classified into two categories: - **Crewed spacecraft** - **Space Capsule** - **Space Plane** - **Space Station** - **Crew Lander** - **Crew Rover** - **Starship** - **Un-crewed Spacecraft** - **Orbital Satellite** - **Space Probe** - **Lander Spacecraft** - **Space Telescope** - **Cargo Spacecraft** ## Crewed Spacecraft - **Crewed spacecraft** is a type of spacecraft that is designed and equipped for human occupation. - Compared to un-crewed spacecrafts, crewed spacecrafts are complex due to the need for human-specialized equipment and are controlled by a crew of cosmonauts. - There are also safety risks involved in the use of crewed spacecrafts, including potential exposure to radiation, accidents, and unfavorable health effects of the outer space environment. It is shielded with a special heat shield (or Thermal Protection System). - **Crewed spacecrafts** provide the benefit of human space travel and can enable scientists to gather information in an effective manner. ## Space Capsule - **A space capsule** is designed to carry equipment and crew on outer-space missions for extraterrestrial data collection and research. - Space capsules are often used with space stations as cargo vehicles for supplying components. - Space capsules can return from space at least once. They have a blunt shape, do not usually contain much more fuel than needed, and they do not possess wings unlike spaceplanes. - **Space Capsule** is the simplest form of recoverable spacecraft and the most commonly used. ### Examples of Space Capsules - The first capsule was the **Vostok 1 capsule** (first crewed spacecraft) built by the Soviet Union (USSR), that carried the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin in 1961. - Other examples include the **Soyuz (USSR), Orion (NASA), and Dragon-2 (NASA/SpaceX)**. ## Space Planes - **Spaceplanes** are spacecraft that are built in the shape of, and function as, airplanes. - Large spaceplanes are sometimes called spaceship. - **A spaceplane** is a vehicle that can fly like an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere and maneuver like a spacecraft in outer space. To do so, spaceplanes must incorporate features of both aircraft and spacecraft. ### Classifications of Spaceplanes - **Spaceplanes** have two classifications: **orbital Spaceplanes ** and **suborbital Spaceplanes**. - Spaceplanes are rocket-powered for takeoff and flight but then landed as unpowered gliders. ### Orbital Space Planes - Four types of **orbital spaceplanes** have successfully launched to orbit, reentered Earth's atmosphere, and landed: 1. **Space Shuttles (US, 1981 to 2011),** 2. **Buran (Russia, 1988),** 3. **Boeing X-37 (US, 2010-present),** 4. **CSSHQ (China. 2022-present).** - **Dream Chaser**, is under development in the U.S. ### Suborbital Space Planes - The suborbital rocket-powered spaceplanes have been launched horizontally from an airborne carrier aircraft (mothership) before rocketing beyond the Kármán line. Examples are: - **SpaceShipOne (US, 2003-2004)** - **North American X-15 (US, 1959-1968)** ## Space Shuttle - **A space shuttle** is a winged spacecraft that was used by NASA between 1981 and 2011. - It was slightly larger than space capsules, and can carry more crew members. It was used as an orbiter and was manually operated. - The space shuttles pioneered the era of reusable spacecrafts. - It consisted of two reusable **Solid Rocket Boosters** that landed by parachute, were recovered at sea. - The Space Shuttle was retired in 2011 mainly due to its old age and high cost of program reaching over a billion dollars per flight. - The Shuttle's human transport role is replaced by the **Commercial Crew Program (with SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner).** ## Space Station - **A space station** is a large elaborate spacecraft composed of facilities for active research, data collection, and experimenting. - It serves as a stable base around which elaborate space operations take place. - It is an extraterrestrial, multinational facility equipped with laboratories that are used by researchers from various countries. ### Examples of Space Stations - The **International Space Station (ISS)** and **Tiangong Space Station (TSS)** are the only active space stations. ## International Space Station (ISS) - The **International Space Station (ISS)** is the largest spacecraft launched in 1998. - **ISS** is located in low Earth orbit (400 km altitude, 15.5 orbits per day). It houses research facilities and took up to a decade and multiple space trips to assemble. - It is the result of collaboration between five national space agencies and other contractors: - **NASA (USA),** - **Roscosmos (Russia),** - **JAXA (Japan),** - **ESA (Europe),** - **CSA (Canada).** ## Tiangong Space Station (TSS) - **Tiangong Space Station (TSS)** was launched in 2021 (China). - **TSS** is located in low Earth orbit (389 km altitude, 16 orbits per day) and consists of four modules: - **Tianhe:** the core module (launched in 2021), - **Wentian:** laboratory cabin modules (launched in 2022), - **Mengtian:** laboratory cabin modules (launched in 2022), - **Xuntian:** Space Station Telescope (to be launched in 2024). - The space station aims to provide opportunities for space-based experiments and a platform for building capacity for scientific and technological innovation. ## Crew Lander - **Crew Lander spacecraft** is a type of crew spacecraft used to land humans smoothly and safely on the surface of an extraterrestrial body. - **Apollo Lunar Module** is the only lunar lander to have ever been used in human spaceflight, completing six lunar landings from 1969 to 1972. - Important design factors include the life support system. The **Lunar lander** must use propulsion to decelerate and achieve a soft landing. - The first astronaut to land on the moon was **Neil Armstrong** through the **Apollo 11 Mission in 1969**. ### Crew Landers Missions - The missions of **Crew Landers** so far are: - **Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 (1969),** - **Apollo 14 and Apollo 15 (1971),** - **Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 (1972),** ## Crew Rover - **Crew space rover** is a space exploration crew vehicle designed to move across the surface of the Moon. The rover could carry one or two astronauts, their equipment, and lunar samples. - The **lunar rover** was a battery-powered four-wheeled rover used on Lunar during the last three Apollo missions (15, 16, and 17). ## Starship - **Starship** is a **reusable super Heavy spacecraft** (121 m height, 9 m diameter) under development by SpaceX company. - The spacecraft is designed to transport both crew and cargo to a variety of destinations, including Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and potentially beyond. - It enables long duration interplanetary flights for a crew of up to 100 people. - **Starship** is launched in two stages. The **first-stage booster** contains 33 Raptor engines arranged in concentric rings, and the **second-stage** uses 6 Raptor engines and the payload. - Starship capable of carrying up to 150 tonnes fully reusable and 250 tonnes expendable. - It will also be capable of point-to-point transport on Earth, enabling travel to anywhere in the world in less than an hour.