What is Launch: Definition and 351 Discussions

A launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket-propelled vehicle used to carry a payload from Earth's surface to space, usually to Earth orbit or beyond. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, launch pad, vehicle assembly and fuelling systems, range safety, and other related infrastructure.Orbital launch vehicles can be grouped based on many different factors, most notably payload mass, although price points are a major concern for some users. Most launch vehicles have been developed by or for national space programs, with considerable national prestige attached to spaceflight accomplishments. Payloads include crewed spacecraft, satellites, robotic spacecraft, scientific probes, landers, rovers, and many more.
Orbital spaceflight is difficult and expensive, with progress limited by the underlying technology as much as human and societal factors.

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  1. D

    Calculating the Energy Required to Launch a Satellite into Orbit

    Homework Statement Find the energy required to launch a satellite from Earth into circular orbit at radius 5Re in units of joules. Msat = 1000 kg Me = 5.98e24 kg Re = 6.37e6 G = 6.67259e-11 Homework Equations F = GMm/(r^2) The Attempt at a Solution I'm thinking somehow...
  2. matthyaouw

    I know, lets launch a car into space

    Ok, let's face it, space shuttles are expensive. Very expensive. Wouldn't it be great if we could find a low cost alternative vehicle to launch into space, like, oh, I dunno, a Reliant Robin- one of those crappy little three wheel cars that have been mocked continuously from their release to...
  3. C

    Where Do the Keys Land on a Ferris Wheel Ride?

    Homework Statement Fairgoers ride a Ferris wheel with a radius of 6.00 m, the bottom of which is 1.75 m from the ground. The wheel completes one revolution every 28.0 s. A passenger drops his keys when he is three quarters of the way up and at an angle of 45° to the vertical. Where do the keys...
  4. U

    Launch angle of projectile

    Homework Statement At .5 of its maximum height, the speed of a projectile is .75 of its initial speed. What was its launch angle? Homework Equations (1)V1y = V0y - gt (2)y1-y0 = V0yt - .5gt^2 The Attempt at a Solution The part that really bothers me is the second part of the first statement...
  5. C

    What Is the Optimal Launch Angle for Maximum Distance?

    I would like to know what the Optimum Angle of Launch would be for an object projecting forward to obtain maximum distance. The object will be traveling approximately 25 mph and will launch off a surface 2 feet above the ground. What is the Optimum Angle of Launch to get that object to the...
  6. S

    Projectile launch point problem

    I'm having some difficulty with a projectiles question. "A projectile is fired with an initial speed of 26.0 m/s at an angle of 40.0 degrees above the horizontal. The object hits the ground 8.00 s later." The first part of the question is: "How much higher or lower is the launch point...
  7. P

    Best way to launch a marshmellow?

    Best way to launch a marshmallow? I have a limit of $20 to build a small launcher. It will launch a large marshmallow. What is the best way using items bought from any retail stores? It has to land in the same place consistantly and for 50feet. I am thinking something along the lines of...
  8. O

    Egg Launch: Solving a Physics Problem

    This is a one dimensional problem just in case anyone needlessly accounts for horizontal velocity. An egg is thrown upward from the edge of a building. The egg falls next to the edge (i.e., without hitting it) and after traveling down 50 more meters more, it has been 6 seconds since the egg...
  9. B

    Determine the vertical components of the launch velocity

    I have a problem that I can't figure out what formula to use. It states: In a football game a kicker attempts a field goal. The ball remains in contact with the kicker's foot for 0.0588 s, during which time it experiences an acceleration of 290 m/s2. The ball is launched at an angle of 48.5 °...
  10. C

    Launch Angle Q's with no Angle

    A golfer gives a ball a maximum initial speed of 28.5 m/s. (Neglect air resistance.) (a) What is the longest possible hole in one for this golfer? Neglect any distance the ball might roll on the green, and assume that the tee and the green are at the same level. m (b) What is the minimum speed...
  11. J

    Ferris Wheel Physics Problem: Average Speed & Key Launch Angle

    I have a problem that I'm having trouble with. The question is, A farris wheel that has a radius of 5 meters, takes 32 seconds to complete one revolution. (a) what is the average speed of the rider on the Ferris Wheel? (b) If passenger drops keys when at top of the wheel, where does it land...
  12. W

    Why Are Satellite Launch Pads Located on East Coast?

    I have a question... it may seem like a very basic one, but still I am not able to answer this. "Why all satellite launch pads are located on east coast"? I can understand why satellite neeeds to be launhed in eastward direction, but when I tried to correlate these two together, I was told...
  13. L

    Why tiles for re-entry and not launch?

    I've pondered, why does The Shuttle use tiles for re-entry and not lauch. The tiles are used for landing cause the air friction is so high with the speed. Well when The Shuttle launches it's going at tremendous speed also. Going at many times the speed of sound it should cause friction with air...
  14. DaveC426913

    How can I change the default browser in Outlook Express on Windows XP?

    Grr. This is still bugging me. Outlook Express insists on launching any links in Firefox rather than IE. I cannot find the switch to change this.
  15. L

    Is a Linear Launch System Feasible for NASA's Spacecraft? Experts Weigh In

    So the folks at NASA are thinking about testing a linear launch system. It would uses linear induction motors like rollercoasters are using now. The trakc would be about 5 miles long and eventually curve up I sure. Once at the end the space vehicle will have gained enough momentum to get into...
  16. S

    News Army to Launch Probe Into Tillman Death

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/04/AR2006030400860.html It's been two years why they just starting to lanuch a crimnal investegation? I don't watch football.But I'am kind of intersted to see what if it was propous what was the motive.
  17. S

    After Ball Launch: How High Does It Reach?

    A student throws a ball with a speed of 15.0 m.s-1 at an angle of 40.0° above the horizontal directly toward a wall as shown below. The wall is 10.0 m from the release point of the ball. Now I did figure this out. The vertical component of velocity (initial) is v= v(inital) sin angle, and in...
  18. H

    Pumpkin Tower Challenge: Calculating Velocity at Launch & Landing

    Can anyone help with this problem?? Children bring their old pumpkins to a tower and compete for an accuracy in hitting a target on the ground. Suppose the tower height is h=8.0m and the bull's eye on the ground is a distance d=3.4 m from the launch point. (neglect air resistance.) If the...
  19. S

    Very vague question about projectile launch angle

    The launching speed of a certain projectile is 5.2 times the speed it has at maximum height. What is the elevation angle at launching? Could someone just give me a starting point or a hint in the right direction? I know that the horizontal velocity doesn't decrease, and the vertical...
  20. enigma

    New Horizons Launch _Thurs Jan 19th_ ~1pm

    Anyone else watching the Launch of the Pluto probe? www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html They've just filled the Helium and Oxygen tanks to flight levels and are performing tests on them. About T minus 35-40 minutes.
  21. C

    Shenzhou 6 Launch: Implications for the Global Space Industry

    Shenzhou 6 was launched earlier today. What do you think the implications are for the worldwide space industry, and also where do you think the Chinese may be headed with this? How long until they get to the Moon, Mars, or surpass NASA? Also, if given the chance, would you take a ride on a...
  22. I

    Deriving a Launch Angle Equation - Projectile Motion -

    Deriving a Launch Angle Equation -- Projectile Motion -- Please Help This is physics in the area of projectile motion. My class and I are doing a lab where we have to calculate the launch angle in order to perform a successful lab. The experiment is as follows: the projectile launcher releases...
  23. L

    NASA Space Elevator Feasibility: NASA Announces New Launch Vehicle and CEV

    Yeah, they'll have those right after they have satellites that can scratch your ass with a laser beam from space. Cheers...
  24. Astronuc

    NASA NASA Announces New Launch Vehicle and CEV

    How We'll Get Back to the Moon - http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/cev.html However - NASA Estimates Moon Rocket Will Cost $104B http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050919/ap_on_sc/moon_rocket By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer On the other hand, NASA has Michoud (La), Stennis (MS)...
  25. S

    Space Shuttle Launch on 4th of July: Fireworks and Excitement Await!

    will space shuttle blow up again ? would be much better idea to send shuttle into the space on 4th of july, we have never enough of fireworks and stuff exploding.
  26. J

    Building a Water Rocket: What Affects Launch Height?

    I'm Currently Making A Water Rocket And I Want To Obtain More Information About The Factors That Might Affect It From Launching Higher. Thanks For Your Help Really Appreciate It.
  27. Ivan Seeking

    Ticket Sales and Target Window for First Commercial Launch

    http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-05p.html
  28. tony873004

    Solving a Rocket Launch Problem: Find the Fuel Mass Fraction

    Did I do this right? I'm relying on a formula the teacher gave us in class, without quite understanding it intuitively. So I'm just rewriting the formula to solve for my unknown and plugging in numbers. A sounding rocket launched from Earth’s surface is to achieve a final speed of 1000 m/s...
  29. V

    Projectile Launch - Earth's Radius

    The answer that the book gives for the question: What is the launch speed of a projectile that rises above the Earth to an altitude equal to the Earth's radius? Ans. 7.91 km/s Now I have the question: What is the launch speed of a projectile that rises above the Earth to an altitude equal...
  30. quasar987

    Investigating a Rocket Launch Speed Anomaly

    Is there something wrong with this reasoning: First the question: "A rocket A leave Earth at a speed v at a time where the clocks onboard and those on Earth read 0. After a time T (for the Earth's clock), a second rocket is lauched with a speed u > v. The second rocket catches up with the...
  31. P

    Successful launch of Deep Impact

    Launched today at 1:47 pm. Impactor will hit comet Tempel 1 on July 4. Love the real-time blog for the launch... http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/delta2_launch_050112.html
  32. iansmith

    G-Wash: Launch Your Clean Car Revolution!

    http://g-wash.com/index.php?pageid=content_launch&id=192
  33. P

    When will the Cosmos 1 solar sail spacecraft be launched?

    http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/11/10/solar.sail.ap/index.html
  34. D

    How can I accurately model the launch trajectory of a Saturn V rocket?

    hi, I'm an undergraduate from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, and I'm trying to develop an accurate model of a launch of a saturn V rocket for a project. i have access to the technical specs like fuel capacities, consumption rates, etc. but i need help on some of the harder...
  35. F

    Rocket Launch HELP: Calculating Max Velocity, Thrust, and More

    how to you find max velocity...average thrust..energy stored in engine...and time to max height... We did a real rocket launch, and i onli got the following information: 3.48s for rocket to reach max height..according to timer, distance from launch pad..99m, angle 33 degree. I need hints...
  36. BasketDaN

    Mathematica Mathematical Proof That a 45 Degree Angle Launch is Best for Displacement

    Does anybody know how to mathematically prove that an object launched at a 45 degree angle will have the largest possible displacement?
  37. E

    Calculating Distance of Ball Launch in Semicircular Chute

    A ball is launched up a semicircular chute in such a way that at the top of the chute, just before it goes into free fall, the ball has a centripetal acceleration of magnitude 2g. 1.)How far from the bottom of the chute does the ball land? Your answer for the distance the ball travels from...
  38. W

    Calculating Launch Speed: What You Need to Know

    Does anyone know the formula to find launch speed?
  39. J

    Why Does the Space Shuttle's Calculated Acceleration Seem Low?

    Hello all. I am doing some research on the space shuttle for a class project, and I am having some problems with my data. I was hoping someone could show me the error of my ways. I got all of my data from this site: http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/basics It says that 2...
  40. D

    Calculating Average Pressure in Rifle Barrel from Bullet Launch Speed

    A 0.015 lb. bullet leaves the 23 in. barrel of a 0.30 caliber rifle (whose bore diameter is 0.30 in) at 2000 ft/s. Find the average pressure of the gases in the rifle barrel while the bullet is being accelerated.
  41. N

    Beagles 3 & 4 due for 2007 Launch

    What do you do when you lose a Lander? Simple, launch another TWO! Huh? And why on Earth would anyone sponsor Beagle’s 3 and 4? Beagles 3 & 4 (on the way); http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1223765,00.html An image (by ESA) of Beagle 3 Lander...
  42. Arctic Fox

    Are there advantages to launching space missions from the Arctic/North Pole?

    Thinking that there is quite a bit of junk orbiting around the equator, what would be the disadvantages (if any) of conducting a launch from the Arctic/North Pole? Any comments on launching from the Magnetic North Pole?
  43. pelastration

    News Is al-Qaeda to launch an attack in USA?

    Check the photos! Al-Qaeda said almost ready to attack United States http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/terror/20040526-1100-terrorthreat.html WASHINGTON – The United States has credible intelligence from multiple sources that al-Qaeda is determined to launch an attack in the...
  44. H

    What is the skier's launch speed?

    Please Help... Can Someone please help me with these 2 physics question..i don't know waht equation to use ...can someone please tell me what equation to use..thanks alot..appreciate it. 1.The 1994 Winter Olympics included the aerials competition in skiing. In this event skiers speed down a...
  45. J

    Island in the sky - helium launch platform

    This is a new launch plaform idea to assist Nasa in meeting it's extra-planetary goals. It seems that a large helium-supported platform in the upper atmosphere could save a lot of launch energy and pollution. The platform might be quite large, perhaps 0.5 to 2 km in diameter, and could be...
  46. S

    Trouble with Proof of Optimal Launch Angle

    Here is my problem, can anyone help me out? Prove the maximum range of a skier going down a ski jump is given by (theta) = 45degrees - phi/2 , where theta = optimal launch angle , phi = slope angle of take off with respect to the incline of the hill. I have the following equations to use...
  47. C

    HELP What are 10 principles of physics applied to a space shuttle launch?

    Hey, can someone please help me with this? *restates question* I need 10 principles of physics applied to a space shuttle launch. Thanks!
  48. HBar

    Find Optimum Launch Angle For Distance in Physics Class Project

    My physics class project is to construct a catapult. My question is what is the optimum launch angle for distance. This was posted awhile back by someone else, but i can't find the post again. I think it said that because of air resistance an angle slightly above 45 degrees is optimum for...
  49. S

    China to launch a man into space on Oct 10th?

    Shenzhou-5 Single-Person Mission Could Be Launched On October 10. SpaceDaily.com China may launch its first astronaut October 10 sources at Xi'an Satellite Control Centre in Shaanxi Province were reported saying earlier this week. While the date remains unconfirmed, all evidence continues...
  50. A

    Shuttle Launch Leader: Who Is It?

    Ok, this is a really stupid question, but it's just killing me for some reason. What do you call the person who leads a shuttle launch? I need help quickly!
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