Lecture 24: Launch Vehicles

Author: Fadri Date: 04.12.2024 Exercise: Calculation Moon landing (in class) Lecturer: Simon Stähler Reading Ass: 26 Summaries: Launch Vehicles (../../Launch%20Vehicles%20173607ce73f880bf8d58d4f4593e74a2.md)

Content Summary:

• Types of launch vehicles: ELVs, RLVs, solid and liquid rocket boosters.
• Launch mechanics: payload fairings, thrust-to-weight ratio, specific impulse, delta-v, payload capacity.
• Launch operations: windows, sites, vehicle integration and testing, sequence, safety systems.
• Environmental and economic aspects: impact of launches, cost efficiency, market trends, commercial and government providers, emerging technologies, vehicle reliability, selection criteria for missions.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the distinctions between ELVs and RLVs, including propulsion mechanisms.
• Strategically select launch vehicles tailored to mission specifics, evaluating factors like orbit type, payload size, and cost-efficiency.
• Analyze the environmental repercussions of launches and familiarize with the evolving landscape of launch technology and market dynamics.