Rocket in sky
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Rocket in the Sky: A Comprehensive Overview
Homemade Rocket Launches: Achievements and Challenges
The Copenhagen Suborbitals team successfully launched the Nexø II rocket, a 6.7-meter-tall homemade rocket powered by a bipropellant engine mixing ethanol and liquid oxygen. This engine produced a thrust of 5 kilonewtons, allowing the rocket to reach an altitude of 6,500 meters. The rocket's descent was controlled by a white-and-orange parachute, ensuring it returned in one piece, showcasing the potential of crowdfunded and amateur space exploration efforts1.
Visible Signatures of Rocket Plumes
The visibility of rocket plumes against the sky is influenced by the scattering of sunlight and sky light by smoke particles in the plume. Factors such as cloud cover and atmospheric attenuation play significant roles. Analytical models and computer programs like VISIG can predict the probability of detecting a rocket plume based on these variables. This prediction requires detailed propellant data, including particle size distribution and composition, to accurately model the plume's visibility under various conditions2.
Historical Use of Rockets in Warfare
Early references to the military use of rockets date back to the Chinese, with significant contributions from figures like William Congreve and William Hale in the 19th century. Despite initial failures, these early experiments laid the groundwork for the development of modern rocketry. The theoretical work of William Moore provided the first mathematical theory of rocket motion, marking a crucial step towards the advancements seen in the mid-20th century3.
Daytime Sky Observations from Rockets
Photographs taken from altitudes above 100 kilometers reveal that the daytime sky brightness is only slightly higher than the night sky when viewed from the ground. This finding is crucial for designing instruments for rockets and satellites, as it indicates a relatively low level of background brightness, similar to that experienced by manned spacecraft4.
Atmospheric Optical Phenomena from Rocket Launches
Powerful rocket launches can create artificial optical effects in the atmosphere, observed using all-sky cameras. These phenomena, often torus-shaped rather than spherical, result from Rayleigh scattering of sunlight by particles in the gas and dust clouds formed during launches. Observations from multiple stations have shown that these luminous clouds can expand rapidly and reach diameters exceeding 1600 kilometers at later stages of development. The visibility of such phenomena depends on sunlight conditions, launch trajectory, and weather5.
Near-Infrared Sky Brightness Measurements
Rocket-borne observations using a liquid-helium-cooled spectrometer have measured the absolute sky brightness at near-infrared wavelengths. These measurements help set upper limits on the intensity of extragalactic background radiation. The observed brightness was slightly higher than previous experiments, indicating time-dependent components of terrestrial and environmental origin6.
Rocket Effect in Bright-Rimmed Clouds
Bright-rimmed clouds (BRCs) are key sites for studying radiation-driven star formation. The "Rocket Effect" observed in BRC 18, where the cloud accelerates away from an ionizing source, has been confirmed using Gaia EDR3 measurements. This effect is supported by the relative proper motions of candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) moving away from the ionizing source. Similar trends have been observed in other BRCs, indicating a strong correlation between the direction of YSO motion and the ionizing source7.
Conclusion
The study of rockets in the sky encompasses a wide range of topics, from amateur rocket launches and their engineering challenges to the visibility of rocket plumes and historical military applications. Observations from high altitudes provide valuable data on sky brightness, while powerful launches create unique atmospheric phenomena. Additionally, the "Rocket Effect" in star-forming regions highlights the dynamic interactions between radiation and interstellar clouds. These diverse insights contribute to our understanding of both practical and theoretical aspects of rocketry and its impact on the sky.
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The First Crowdfunded Astronaut
The first crowdfunded astronaut, a Danish man, successfully flies a homemade rocket to a height of 6,500 meters, with a bipropellant engine mixing ethanol and liquid oxygen for thrust.
Prediction of the visible signature of solid rocket plumes
The VISIG computer program accurately predicts the probability of detection of solid rocket plumes against the sky, using data on propellant particles, combustion rate, and composition.
The rise and fall of early war rockets
Early war rockets were a first step towards the massive rockets of the mid-20th century, but were largely abandoned due to their perceived failure among Western nations in the 19th century.
Atmospheric Optical Phenomena Caused by Powerful Rocket Launches
Atmospheric optical phenomena caused by powerful rocket launches can be observed from various locations, depending on sunlight conditions, launch trajectory, and weather conditions.
A ROCKET-BORNE OBSERVATION OF THE NEAR-INFRARED SKY BRIGHTNESS
The observed near-infrared sky brightness is slightly brighter than previous rocket-borne experiments and COBE/DIRBE results, with time-dependent components from terrestrial and environmental sources.
Investigation of rocket effect in bright-rimmed clouds using Gaia EDR3
The 'Rocket Effect' in bright-rimmed clouds is supported by a strong correlation between relative proper motions of candidate young stellar objects and the angle of on-sky direction from the ionizing source to the central IRAS source of the cloud.
Once More into the Fray
Hadley sat in the driver's seat, preparing to drive off, and Gibson followed her.
Teaching Chemistry Using October Sky
The story of the Rocket Boys can inspire students and teach them about scientific process and chemical principles in rocket propellant systems.
Far ultra-violet radiation in the night sky
The night sky is aglow with diffuse Lyman- (1216 A) emission, making it impossible to detect celestial sources of Lyman- through it.
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