Overview

This page provides an introduction to the launch environment. The objectives of this page are to:

• Familiarize the team with the environmental factors of launch
• Describe how these environmental factors affect spacecraft systems
• Provide guidance for how to design spacecraft to mitigate these factors

This content is part of the Space Systems Crash Courses. It can be viewed in presentation format here:

Launch Environment

The Launch Vehicle

A launch vehicle (otherwise known as a rocket) is used to carry payloads from Earth’s surface into space. Rockets are basically big metal tubes riding on controlled explosions. During launch, the rocket generates thrust to achieve an acceleration several times greater than Earth gravity. Getting to orbit takes a whole lot of energy (and money)!

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy on its maiden voyage [src]

If you find a cheaper way to get to space, we’d like to hear from you.

<aside> ⌛ How long does it take to get to space? It takes the most launch vehicles ~3min to reach the Karman line (100km), ~10min to reach orbit [src]. The entire launch sequence takes place in about as much time as it takes to brew a cup of coffee

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Typical launch sequence. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch sequence is shown [src]

Payload Configurations

There are several types of configurations in which satellites can be arranged onboard rockets. These are:

• Dedicated launch: The payload is the sole occupant and primary mission, using most, if not all, of the launcher's capacity.
• Piggyback launch: the primary payload does not completely use the launcher's available capacity. Thus, an excess of capacity remains available for secondary payloads. The primary payload still decides all the mission requirements.
• Rideshare launch: Multiple payloads share the launch vehicle's capacity with separate, independent mission objectives without one being the primary.