Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University

Department of Fuel and Propellant Engineering

FP 5108: Principles and Construction of Rocketry

Trajectory (Range Calculation)

Prepared by: U Zaw Min Tun (M.E - Aerospace FP)

1
 Objectives

General Objective: To understand the calculation

method of range with different approaches

At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to

(1) Derive the Tsiolkosky’s equation
(2) Compute the range in the absence of gravity
(3) Construct vertical motion in the earth gravitational field

2
 Outline
• Introduction

• Derivation of Tsiolkosky’s equation

• Calculation of range in the absence of gravity

• Derivation of the vertical motion in the earth

gravitational field
• References

• Assignment

3
 Introduction
• The launching time is short for any space mission.
• The needs for launching a spacecraft are time
consuming, thoroughly researches and huge investment
of various resources.

4
 Assumption for Tsiokosky’s equation

• Without taking into account gravitational field

• No atmospheric drag.

• The gas flow me is constant over the total combustion

time tc

• This fundamental equation is the basis of current

spacecraft engineering.
5
 Derivation
Momentum equation: me ve dt  Mdv

M  M initial  m et

The final mass: M final  M  m etc

m e
dv  ve dt
M initial  metc

tc
m e  M initial 
V  ve  dt V  ve ln  
0 M initial  m etc M
 final 

6
Minitial/Mfi ve = 1000 ve = 2000 ve = 3000 ve = 4000
nal m/s m/s m/s m/s
1 0 0 0 0
4 1386.294361 2772.588722 4158.883083 5545.177444
8 2079.441542 4158.883083 6238.324625 8317.766167
12 2484.90665 4969.8133 7454.719949 9939.626599
16 2772.588722 5545.177444 8317.766167 11090.35489
20 2995.732274 5991.464547 8987.196821 11982.92909
22 3091.042453 6182.084907 9273.12736 12364.16981
24 3178.05383 6356.107661 9534.161491 12712.21532
26 3258.096538 6516.193076 9774.289614 13032.38615
28 3332.20451 6664.40902 9996.613531 13328.81804
7
 Assessment on Tsiolkosky’s Equation
14000

12000

10000

8000 ve = 1000 m/s

ΔV ve = 2000 m/s
6000
ve = 3000 m/s

ve = 4000 m/s
4000

2000

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Minitial/Mfinal

8
 Range

• Range is defined as the distance travelled along the

rocket’s trajectory during a burn.
• It is sometimes useful to know the distance travelled
during the burn, even in the absence of gravity – such
as during orbital insertion – or for an interplanetary
trajectory injection.

9
 Range in the Absence of Gravity
Assumptions: The mass flow rate and the thrust are constant.
M  M M initial  M  dM
m et  M initial  M tc  initial  1   m e 
m e m e  M initial  dt
t t
 M initial 
s   V (t )dt   ve ln  dt
0 0  M initial  m etc 

M initial  M initial  mt
  M initial  mt 
s  ve   ln  1 
m  M initial  M initial 

M initial  M  M initial 
s  ve 1   ln  1 
m  M initial  M 
10
Assessment on above Range Equation

11
 Vertical Motion in the Earth’s Gravitational Field
The thrust, velocity and gravitational field vectors are all
aligned, and the motion is exclusively one-dimensional.
dM dv F  Mg dv dM 1 Mg
F  m e ve m e  
dt
 ve 
dt M M
dt dt M

dM V M
dM
t
M initial
dv  ve
M
 gdt  dv  ve
0

M initial
M
 g  dt
o
V  ve ln
M
 gt

F ve m e
Thrust-to-weight ratio:    V  ve ln
M initial M
 g initial

 1 
M 

gM o gM o M m e  M initial 

ideal velocity gravity loss

ve  M 
The gravity loss: 1 
  Mo 
  needs to be greater than unity
for the rocket to even leave the
launch pad. 12
 Range Calculation
t t
M initial
s  ve  ln dt  g  tdt
0
M 0

M initial  M  M initial  1 2
s  ve 1   ln  1   gt
m  M initial  M  2

Mo  M 
t 1  
M  Mo 

2 2
M initial  M  M initial   1  M initial   M 
s  ve  1   ln  1   g   1  
m  M initial  M   2  m   M initial 


13
 Main References
1. Principles, Practice and New Developments, 3rd
Edition, Martin J.L Turner, Springer(2009)

14
 Assignments

• Excel numerical analysis of these range equations with

different mass ratio Saturn IV and Proton launch
vehicles

15
Thank You!

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