SPACE FLIGHT MECHANICS

Vasanth G

Amrita University
g vasanthkumar@cb.amrita.edu

July 6, 2017

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 1 / 21

Overview

1 Quiz 1

2 Basic Physical Principles

Potential Energy
Gravitational field
Kinetic Energy

3 Conservation of energy

4 Conics

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 2 / 21

Quiz 1

a) Spacecraft has launches because

(1) Westward - relative velocity of the Earth
(2) Eastward - Rotation of the Earth
(3) Upward - it needs to go up
(4) We can launch from anyplace and anywhere

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 3 / 21

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 4 / 21
Quiz 1

(b) Geosynchronous orbit should be above equator

(1) True
(2) Need not be

(d) GEO stands for

(1) Geosynchronous Equitorial orbit
(2) Geostationary Equitorial orbit
(3) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit
(4) All of the above

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 5 / 21

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 6 / 21
Quiz 1

(e) Escape trajectory are generally in nature

(1) Spherical
(2) elliptic
(3) parabolic
(4) hyperbolic

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 7 / 21

 .

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 8 / 21

Quiz 1

(f) PSLV and GSLV introduced and type of fuels in their

propulsion respectively
(a) cryogenic and liquid propellant
(b) solid and ion thrust propellant
(c) liquid and cryogenic propellant
(d) cryogenic and liquid propellant.

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 9 / 21

 .

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 10 / 21

Basic Physical Principles

Potential Energy
1 Define.

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 11 / 21

Basic Physical Principles

Potential Energy
1 Define.
2 If force acting on an object is function of position alone- then

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 11 / 21

Basic Physical Principles

Potential Energy
1 Define.
2 If force acting on an object is function of position alone- then
1 (a) It is conservative

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 11 / 21

Basic Physical Principles

Potential Energy
1 Define.
2 If force acting on an object is function of position alone- then
1 (a) It is conservative
2 (b) F (x) = dU
dx Implications?

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 11 / 21

Basic Physical Principles

Potential Energy
1 Define.
2 If force acting on an object is function of position alone- then
1 (a) It is conservative
2 (b) F (x) = dU
dx Implications?
3 Plots of potential functions- visualizing the change of the force.

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 11 / 21

Basic Physical Principles

Potential Energy
1 Define.
2 If force acting on an object is function of position alone- then
1 (a) It is conservative
2 (b) F (x) = dU
dx Implications?
3 Plots of potential functions- visualizing the change of the force.
3 Why expression has negative sign in it?

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 11 / 21

Basic Physical Principles

Potential Energy
1 Define.
2 If force acting on an object is function of position alone- then
1 (a) It is conservative
2 (b) F (x) = dU
dx Implications?
3 Plots of potential functions- visualizing the change of the force.
3 Why expression has negative sign in it?
4 Examples for conservative force field?

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 11 / 21

Newtons law of universal gravitation

Gravitational Force
Spherical symmetry.
GMm
F = R2
G value is 6.67 1011 m3 /kgs 2
G is defined in terms of Plank Length- Please go back and check the
values!
# 1. Using Newtons law of graviation, compute the mass of the Earth.
Take radius of the Earth as 6371 km.

# 2. A satellite of mass m is in circular orbit around the Earth, whose

mass is M. The orbital radius from the center of the Earth is r. Use
Newtons law of motion to calculate speed v of the satellite in terms of
M, r and the gravitational constant G.

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 12 / 21

Kinetic Energy Concepts

Define.
# 3. The kinetic energy of a particle moving along a circle of radius
R depends on the distance covered s as T = a(s 2 ), where a is a
constant. Find the force acting on the particle as function of s.

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 13 / 21

Conservation of Energy Principle

# 4. A spaceship of mass mo moves in the absence of external forces with

a constant velocity vo . To change the motion direction, a jet engine is
switched on. It starts ejecting a gas jet with velocity u which is constant
relative to the spaceship and directed at right angles to the spaceship
motion. The engine is shut down when the mass of the spaceship
decreases to m. Through what angle a did the motion direction of the
spaceship deviate due to the jet engine operation?

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 14 / 21

Conics

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 15 / 21

Eccentricity

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 16 / 21

Types

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 17 / 21

Semi-major and semi-minor axis

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 18 / 21

Perigee- Apogee

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 19 / 21

Geoid

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 20 / 21

Why do we care about Conics?

Vasanth G (Aerospace) SFM July 6, 2017 21 / 21