Rocket Science• NASA developed a rocket engine– This new type of engine was used chemical
reactions to thrust an object straight up in the air– Before the rocket engine there was the jet engine• Used to push something forward• Used in planes
• Importance of Rocket Science– Space Race
• United States and Soviet Union racing to space• During cold war this was important to prove who was
smarter
Types of Rockets llllll• Artificial satellites– satellite is lifted from the earth's surface by a rocket– Once in space the satellite is propelled by a different rocket – 5 types of satellites
• Research- measure fundamental properties of outer space• Communications- used for radio, phones, and TV• Meteorological- used to collect data about weather.• Navigational- used for navigation systems (originally made for
submarines allowing them to know where they were going while underwater)
• Applications- designed to test ways of improving satellite technology itself – This allowed NASA to create better satellites than Soviets
Types of Rockets Cont. lllll • Space Craft– machine designed for spaceflight– often used for earth observation, meteorology,
navigation, planetary exploration– usually carries people into space
• Allowed America to take the first man to the moon (Apollo 11)
• Scientific Space Probes– unmanned machines that are lifted into space by
rockets– used to explore interstellar objects
• Such as moons, planets, sometimes asteroids and comets.
Military Uses• Large Guided Missiles – unmanned space or air vehicle carrying an explosive
warhead– path can be adjusted during flight– Powered by rocket engines– Four types
• Air to Air-fired by aircraft at enemy aircraft • Surface to Air-fired on ground against enemy aircraft• Air to Surface-fired by aircraft at ground position• Surface to Surface-shot from ground at positions on the
ground (includes ship and submarine launched versions)• Click the first link to watch a guided missile launch click the
2nd link to watch the damage of a us missile– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3RKn_7Pcw0– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk0mmZX8jcY
Military Use Cont.• Short Range Missiles– Bazooka• Light weight metal tube from which rockets are
launched• Often referred to as a “stovepipe”• First rocket used in warfare• Mainly used as an antitank weapon and a weapon to
destroy bunkers.
– Short Range Guided Missiles• Replaced bazooka as the antitank weapon• Fired at short distance at about 50 meters off the
ground to destroy tanks
NASA’s Future
• NASA planned on building a permanent moon base– President Obama cancelled this due to budget
cuts• NASA announced a plan to launch a man onto
Mars by the year 2037.
Bibliograpic Slide1. "guided missile." The Columbia Encyclopedia,
Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Feb. 2010 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
2. “NASA - Rocket." NASA - Home. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/rocket_worldbook.html>.
3. "How are rockets designed?" Welcome to QRG. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/propulsion/1-how-are-rockets-designed.html>.
Bibliographic Slide Cont.
• "bazooka." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Feb. 2010 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.