Spacecraft Design – Balancing the Needs of Different Systems

Designing a spacecraft involves balancing the needs of various systems, such as structural integrity, communication and life support systems. Furthermore, its design should accommodate different environmental conditions. Spacecraft designers must consider several environmental variables when creating spacecraft designs: steady acceleration; acoustic, random and sinusoidal vibrations; mechanical shock; and pressure profiles. This requires extensive analysis and…

The Different Perspectives of Spacecraft Orbiting Earth

Have you seen satellites zipping across the sky, taking minutes to travel from horizon to horizon? They appear tranquil but in reality are moving at hundreds of kilometers per second! Satellites help us explore our world and solar system with greater depth. They provide weather forecasts, route cell phone calls, and take pictures of Earth…