How does a rocket designed?
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Step One: Know What Your Rocket Needs to Do.
In order to know what kind of rocket you’re going to build, you need to know its requirements.
For the sake of this hypothetical example, let’s say the new rocket you need to build is to be designed for the purpose of human exploration of deep space. Specifically, it’s going to be the rocket that will enable human missions to Mars, far and away the most ambitious task ever undertaken in spaceflight history. A bold mission requires a bold rocket.
Blueprint of everything you need to build your own SLS, except for all the inner working that actually make it fly.
Step Two: Establish Mission Parameters.
Over history, there have been numerous studies of how to get to Mars, so you take the best data you can get and figure out what it takes to execute those missions. The general thinking is that you’re going to need multiple launches to carry out the mission, but even with multiple launches, there are going to be some really big pieces. You’re going to have to be able to lift at least 130 metric tons of stuff (a.k.a. payload) into Earth orbit. Many engineers think your lander may measure up to 30 feet across, so you need a payload volume big enough to carry it.
Step Three: Call in Experts.
You work with other rocket designers, in both the government and commercial spaceflight worlds. You listen to a lot of ideas. And I mean, a LOT of ideas.
Step Four: Start Drawing.
You start creating rocket designs. You work from a blank sheet of paper. In fact, you get a lot of blank sheets of paper. Reams of paper, really.
Step Five: Whittle Down the Possibilities.
The challenge, it turns out, is not to design a rocket capable of supporting human missions to Mars. The challenge is designing the BEST rocket for the mission.
Step Six: Pick the Best Design.
And so from the thousands, one remained — the design that could not only carry out the mission to Mars, but could do so most safely, affordably and sustainably.
The lengthy journey to the launch pad had begun.
In order to know what kind of rocket you’re going to build, you need to know its requirements.
For the sake of this hypothetical example, let’s say the new rocket you need to build is to be designed for the purpose of human exploration of deep space. Specifically, it’s going to be the rocket that will enable human missions to Mars, far and away the most ambitious task ever undertaken in spaceflight history. A bold mission requires a bold rocket.
Blueprint of everything you need to build your own SLS, except for all the inner working that actually make it fly.
Step Two: Establish Mission Parameters.
Over history, there have been numerous studies of how to get to Mars, so you take the best data you can get and figure out what it takes to execute those missions. The general thinking is that you’re going to need multiple launches to carry out the mission, but even with multiple launches, there are going to be some really big pieces. You’re going to have to be able to lift at least 130 metric tons of stuff (a.k.a. payload) into Earth orbit. Many engineers think your lander may measure up to 30 feet across, so you need a payload volume big enough to carry it.
Step Three: Call in Experts.
You work with other rocket designers, in both the government and commercial spaceflight worlds. You listen to a lot of ideas. And I mean, a LOT of ideas.
Step Four: Start Drawing.
You start creating rocket designs. You work from a blank sheet of paper. In fact, you get a lot of blank sheets of paper. Reams of paper, really.
Step Five: Whittle Down the Possibilities.
The challenge, it turns out, is not to design a rocket capable of supporting human missions to Mars. The challenge is designing the BEST rocket for the mission.
Step Six: Pick the Best Design.
And so from the thousands, one remained — the design that could not only carry out the mission to Mars, but could do so most safely, affordably and sustainably.
The lengthy journey to the launch pad had begun.
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