Currently viewing the category: "Rocket Science"

Podcast Ep. #1 – Dr Chauncey Wu on NASA, Rocket Science and Advanced Composite Materials

On October 7, 2017 · In Aerospace Engineering, Composite Materials, Composites, Engineering, History, NASA, Podcast, Rocket Science

“If you’re trying to put these structures into orbit, every gram counts. Not just every pound but every gram…So you are making structures that are operating at their margins.” — Dr Chauncey Wu, NASA Langley Research Center

Today’s conversation features Dr Chauncey Wu, who is a research engineer at NASA Langley Research Center in […]

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From Wright Flyer to Space Shuttle

On February 15, 2017 · In Case Studies, Engineering, General Aerospace, History, Rocket Science, Technology

On December 17 1903, the bicycle mechanic Orville Wright completed the first successful flight in a heavier-than-air machine. A flight that lasted a mere 12 seconds, reaching an altitude of 10 feet and landing 120 feet from the starting point. The Wright Flyer was made of wood and canvas, powered by a 12 horsepower internal […]

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Supersonic Aerodynamics: Designing Rocket Nozzles

On July 16, 2016 · In Aerodynamics, Case Studies, Engineering, Rocket Science

(Caveat: There is a little bit more maths in this post than usual. I have tried to explain the equations as good as possible using diagrams. In any case, the real treat is at the end of the post where I go through the design of rocket nozzles. However, understanding this design methodology is naturally easier […]

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Rocket Science 101: Lightweight rocket shells

On June 16, 2016 · In Composite Materials, Engineering, Novel Materials/Tailored Structures, Rocket Science

This is the fourth and final part of a series of posts on rocket science. Part I covered the history of rocketry, Part II dealt with the operating principles of rockets and Part III looked at the components that go into the propulsive system.

One of […]

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Rocket Science 101: Fuel, engine and nozzle

On May 23, 2016 · In Engineering, Novel Materials/Tailored Structures, Rocket Science, Technology

This is the third in a series of posts on rocket science. Part I covered the history of rocketry and Part II dealt with the operating principles of rockets. If you have not checked out the latter post, I highly recommend you read this first before diving into what […]

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Rocket Science 101: Operating Principles

On April 24, 2016 · In Engineering, Rocket Science

In a previous post we covered the history of rocketry over the last 2000 years. By means of the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation we also established that the thrust produced by a rocket is equal to the mass flow rate of the expelled gases multiplied by their exit velocity. In this way, chemically fuelled […]

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The History of Rocket Science

On March 20, 2016 · In Engineering, History, Rocket Science

Rocket technology has evolved for more than 2000 years. Today’s rockets are a product of a long tradition of ingenuity and experimentation, and combine technical expertise from a wide array of engineering disciplines. Very few, if any, of humanity’s inventions are designed to withstand equally extreme conditions. Rockets are subjected to awesome g-forces at lift-off, and […]

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