Relating to creating, testing, and refining technology for spacecraft.
Questions tagged [spacecraft-development]
90 questions
27
votes
2 answers
How were these pictures of spacecraft wind tunnel testing taken?
The picture below from this answer shows four spacecraft wind tunnel tests from the 1950s. In addition to the test object, the bow shock and turbulence are clearly visible.
How is this visualization accomplished?
Is the medium air, or a denser…
DrSheldon
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11
votes
1 answer
Are there any studies on the ideal form for a spacecraft at large velocity in vacuum?
Spacecraft meant to operate in both, an atmosphere & space, are typically
Stream-lined (as in the case of the Space Shuttle, and Buran), or
Spherical (Vostok comes to mind).
In contrast spacecraft meant to work in a vacuum may dispense with the…
Everyone
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5
votes
1 answer
Should spacecraft's hypergolic propellant tanks be always 100% full at launch?
So, we are designing a spacecraft, Communication satellite, interplanetary probe, etc. Anyway, extra propellant for in-space maneuvers is always good.
Initially we have:
wet mass cap by rocket launcher
hypergolic delta V for nominal spacecraft…
Heopps
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