Launch System

Launch Vehicle
Launch Complex
Orbit Insertion
Orbit Maneuvers

Booster Design
German V-2
Fins for stability and
steering
Exterior skin with
Propellant tanks within

U.S. Launch Vehicles

Engine gimbals
Wall of tank and skin of
vehicle one and the same
Multiple Stages

Single stage

Launch Vehicles
Expendable
Air Force and commercial US systems
Divided into small, medium, and heavy classes
Next generation of expendable vehicles in
development

Manned
Space Shuttle

Reusable
Test vehicles only

Launch Ranges
Launch ranges provide tracking, telemetry,
communications, command & control, and other
support necessary for safe and successful
space lift operations, and aeronautical and
ballistic missile tests.

Launch Fundamentals
Launch Events
Shroud

Protects the spacecraft

Step 7: Mechanical deployments

Step 6: Satellite initial checkout

Upper stage

Orbit insertion rocket

engines and propellant
tanks

Main vehicle

Step 5: Orbit insertion

Step 4: Shroud opening
Step 3: Main engine cut-off and separation

Primary liquid or solid

rocket propellant tanks

Booster packs

Solid strap-ons for some

rockets to increase
initial thrust

Engine / nozzles

Mechanism for
combining propellants
and focusing thrust

Step 2: Booster cut-off and separation

Step 1: Ignition and launch

Usual Launch Sequence

Step 1

Launch into parking orbit

(With orbit insertion burn)

North
Pole

V2

Step 2

Minimum energy transfer

Burn 1 to change path
Burn 2 to change to higher orbit

N
V1

Step 3

Orbit plane transfer

(With vector thrust burn)

Launch Ranges
Ranges usually located to minimize overflight of
populated areas and reduce
potential debris hazards

Launch site latitude limits the inclination of the

satellites orbit
The minimum inclination of the orbit is equal to the
latitude of the launch site
To get to a lower inclination, satellites need to go through
an orbit plane transfer

DOD LAUNCH LOCATIONS

CAPE
CAPECANAVERAL
CANAVERALAFS
AFS/ /
KENNEDY
KENNEDYSPACE
SPACECENTER
CENTER
(EASTERN
(EASTERNSPACE
SPACELAUNCH
LAUNCH
RANGE)
RANGE)

VANDENBURG
VANDENBURGAFB
AFB
(WESTERN
(WESTERNSPACE
SPACE
LAUNCH
LAUNCHRANGE)
RANGE)

SHUTTLE
SHUTTLE
TITAN IV
TITAN IV
TITAN II
TITAN II
ALTAS
ALTAS
DELTA
DELTA

TITAN IV
TITAN IV
TITAN II
TITAN II
ALTAS
ALTAS
DELTA
DELTA

37 DEG

SPACE LAUNCH AZIMUTH

SPA
C
AZI E LAUN
MUT
CH
H

30 DEGREES LATITUDE

112 DEG

201 DEG

158 DEG

Launch Window
The launch window is the period of time during
which the launch must occur to achieve a desired
orbit
Duration of window is determined by desired orbit,
launch location, weather, and launch vehicle
performance
Examples of issues:
Vehicle may require specific orbit for rendezvous
Vehicle may require orientation to get correct solar array
exposure before reaching final orbit

Launch Fundamentals
Science

force = (mass) x (acceleration)

f = (m)(a)
The thrust of a launch vehicle must oppose gravity and
atmospheric drag
To get into orbit, a vehicle must achieve a velocity of
mach 24 (24 times the speed of sound)
FORCE

Thrust = Pounds or Kg

FORCE & TIME

Impulse = Pounds per sec

= Newtons per sec

FORCE & TIME & FUEL

Specific Impulse (Isp)

Isp =
Thrust (lb)
fuel weight (lb) burned in 1 sec

Mass Ratio of a Vehicle

Mass Ratio (MR) is the ratio between the booster
mass before the rocket engine burn (mf ) divided by
the booster mass after rocket engine burn (m0 ).
MR = mf /m0

PROPULSION: GETTING INTO AND

AROUND IN ORBIT
V
V

NORTH
POLE

LAUNCH INTO PARKING ORBIT

(WITH ORBIT INSERTION BURN)

ORBIT PLANE TRANSFER

(WITH VECTOR THRUST BURN)

V2

NORTH
POLE

V1
HOHMANN (MINIMUM ENERGY) TRANSFER
(BURN 1 TO CHANGE TO ELLIPTICAL ORBIT AND
BURN 2 TO CHANGE TO HIGHER ALTITUDE
CIRCULAR ORBIT)

NORTH
POLE

V2

V1
FAST TRANSFER
(BURN 1 TO CHANGE TO LARGE ELLIPSE AND BURN
2 TO FORCE INTO NEW ORBIT)

Launch from Vandenberg

Launch site latitude

37 deg N latitude

Desired Orbits
Inclination
80 degrees
104 degrees
Apogee
250 NM
250 NM
Perigee 100 NM
100 NM
What is the launch azimuth for each orbit?
What velocity (V) must the payload have in each desired
orbit at perigee and apogee?

Launch Azimuth
* cos Inclination = cos Latitude x sin Azimuth

sin Azimuth = cos Inclination/cos Latitude

North

Posigrade Orbit, i.e., with Earths rotation

sin Az = cos 80/cos 37 = sin 12.56 degrees
Launch Azimuth = 167.44 degrees
Retrograde Orbit, i.e., against Earths rotation
sin Az = cos 104/cos 37 = sin -17.63 degrees
Launch Azimuth = 197.63 degrees
167
198

* Formula from page 81 Space Handbook, Analysts Guide.