Space Exploration Stack Exchange
Space Exploration Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [launch]

Questions regarding the takeoff or the liftoff phase of the flight of a rocket and the set of activities required for preparation of the launch vehicle leading to it.

The takeoff or the liftoff phase of the flight of a rocket and the set of activities required for preparation of the launch vehicle leading to it, that might be initiated off the surface of the Earth, its atmosphere (to include air-launch), another man made object, another celestial body or its atmosphere in order to gain distance from it and achieve flight independent of any surface.

In contrast, start of a rocket or a rocket stage in space and independent of another mass body is not considered a launch, and term "ignition" should be used instead.

See also: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Has any spacecraft ever been flown manually to orbit?

Has anyone ever manually flown a spacecraft to orbit, Kerbal Space Program-style?
Vikki
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Do rockets leave launch pad at full thrust?

Rockets always seem to launch slower than I expect them for the thrust they can produce. Do they really launch off the pad at maximum thrust? Or do they launch at lower thrust until they clear the tower? I'm always surprised when I see how slow they…
user36480
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Where to look for next rocket launches?

Is there any place on the internet showing the upcoming rocket launches? Like the launches next week or next month
Joe Jobs
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Is there any non-rocket spacelaunch concept within reach of current material science and technology?

Suppose for a moment that cost would be no issue (and noone brought pruning shears) - could we build any of the non-rocket spacelaunch systems from earth listed here or elsewhere? Which one is the least unfeasable given current technology?
mart
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Have all spacecraft on record been launched from land?

Water is a little buoyant which may be part of the reason a lot of commerce happens on the waves. How much of a difference in terms of fuel would it make if the craft were launched from a water-body? Have all spacecraft to-date launched from…
Everyone
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Space burials in graveyard orbit?

I understand a very small part of space burials are going into deep space. And a good part of them go into suborbital flights. But are there any space burials sent to graveyard orbits? Are any space burials being put into geocentric orbit?
Joe Jobs
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How does the launch of a Polar Satellite differ from that of an East-West orbiter?

A polar satellite orbits a planet over it's poles. An East/West orbiter (I couldn't find the term for such satellites) may orbit anywhere from LEO up as high as GEO. How does the launch process (for want of a better word) differ other than that the…
Everyone
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What US Legacy launcher is oldest in service?

In the context of the Russian space system, I asked the question What is different from the R-7 that launched Sputnik, to the Soyuz launcher used for Soyuz/Progress launches? Thus we see that much of the current Soyuz booster has strong legacy ties…
geoffc
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Has SpaceX applied for license to broadcast video from space?

SpaceX stopped broadcasting live video out the rear of the Falcon 9 2nd stage while the engine was firing after they were informed they needed a license to do so. This is further discussed in the questions (and the answers): Why does the NOAA…
Erut
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Are there any space vehicles in which it would be possible to launch yourself into space on your own?

I'm thinking about something like this: Suppose you really wanted to get into orbit and didn't care about getting back down / staying alive up there. You sneak into a launch facility at night, push some kind of button in a bunker somewhere, and run…
user12
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Launch Azimuth for Southeast launches

I've got the formula for launching to space going Northeast as $$\cos(inc) = \cos(lat) \sin(az)$$ and that works great but what if I wanted to go southeast? For example, I know that from a latitude of 28.5 degrees to get to the ISS with it's 51.6…
Gary Williams
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How does the impulse-to-weight ratio of a propulsion system indicate an effective design?

While going through Sutton's propulsion elements text, I came across an example where he compares the values of impulse-to-weight ratio to that of specific impulse and deems it a "fair design". The value of the impulse/weight ratio was 187s and the…
Lil_TEE
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Are launch schedules coordinated internationally?

Slightly related. I am not looking for general coordination, simply on dates and times of non-related launches. With up to almost daily launches into space, is there (A) any coordination between space-faring countries regarding schedule, and (B)…
Mikey
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What are the factors that determine the roll rate of a launch vehicle during the atmospheric phase?

Even though there are plenty of literature regarding the pitch control of launch vehicle, I couldn't find any regarding the roll autopilot. Is there any formula on how aerodynamic forces affect the roll of a launch vehicle? If no controller is used,…
nik
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Initial Yaw Maneuver: Lean into or away from tower?

Some rockets do an initial yaw maneuver to help avoid contact with the tower. I know the yaw is in the plane of the tower: the rocket either leans into or away from the tower... But which of these is it? I've been figuring it leans away (so the nose…
user36480
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