ATI's Fundamentals of Rockets & Missiles course

Summary: This course provides an overview of rockets and missiles for government and industry officials with limited technical experience in rockets and missiles. The course provides a practical knowledge in rocket and missile issues and technologies. The seminar is designed for engineers, supporting disciplines, decision makers and managers of current and future projects needing a more complete understanding of the complex issues of rocket and missile technology. The seminar provides a foundation for understanding the issues that must be decided in the use, regulation and development of rocket systems of the future. You will learn a wide spectrum of problems, solutions and choices in the technology of rockets and missile used for both military and civil purposes. The seminar is taught to the point-of-view of a decision maker needing the technical knowledge to make better informed choices. What you need to know about how rockets and missiles work, why they are build the way they are, what they are used for and how they differ from use to use. You will learn how rockets and missiles differ when used as weapons, as launch vehicles, and in spacecraft or satellites. The objective is to give the decision maker tools to understand the available choices, and to manage the technical experts with a greater in-depth knowledge of specialized disciplines. View course sampler Attendees will receive a complete set of printed notes. These notes will be an excellent future reference for current trends in the state-of-the-art in rocket and missile technology and decision making. The material is kept current and up to date with recent changes. Instructor: Edward L. Keith is a multi-discipline Launch Vehicle System Engineer, specializing in integration of launch vehicle technology, design, modeling and business strategies. He is currently an independent consultant, writer and teacher of rocket system technology. He is experienced in launch vehicle operations, design, testing, business analysis, risk reduction, modeling, safety and reliability. Mr. Keith’s experience extends to both reusable and expendable launch vehicles, as well as to solid, liquid and hybrid rocket systems. Mr. Keith has designed complete rocket engines, rocket vehicles, small propulsion systems, and composite propellant tank systems, especially designed for low cost, as a propulsion and launch vehicle engineer. His travels have taken him to Russia, China, Australia and other launch operations centers throughout the world. Mr. Keith has worked the Space Launch Initiative and the Liquid Fly-Back Booster programs for Boeing, originated the Scorpius Program for Microcosm, worked on the Brilliant Eyes and the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Programs for Rockwell and worked on the Aerojet Launch Detection Satellite program. He also has 13-years of government experience including five years working launch operations at Vandenberg AFB. Mr. Keith has written 22 technical papers on various aspects of low cost space transportation over the last decade. Contact this instructor (please mention course name in the subject line) What You Will Learn: Fundamentals of rocket and missile systems The spectrum of rocket uses and technologies Differences in technology between foreign and domestic rocket systems Fundamentals and uses of solid liquid and hybrid rocket systems Differences between systems built as weapons and those built for commerce Who Should Attend: Aerospace Industry Managers. Government Regulators, Administrators and sponsors of rocket or missile projects Engineers of all disciplines supporting rocket and missile projects Contractors or investors involved in missile development Course Outline: Introduction to Rockets and Missiles The student is introduced to the practical uses of rocket systems as weapons of war, commerce and the peaceful exploration of space, including classifications of guided, and unguided, rocket and missile systems. Rocket Propulsion made Simple How rocket motors and engines operate to achieve thrust is explained. The use and abuse of the rocket equation and rocket efficiency metrics is explored. Critical Concepts for Modern Rocket Design The student is introduction to Mass Properties in the design of modern rockets. The flight environments of rocket vehicles, and why these environments exist, are explained. Staging Theory, and practice in the design of modern rockets, is explored. Introduction to Propellant Performance, Utility and Applications Propellant performance and mixture ratio issues, including propellant density and specific impulse, are explored. Other important propellant properties, like storability, stability, hypergolic ignition, cryogenic properties, and toxicity, are discussed Introducing Solid Rocket Motor Technology The advantages and disadvantages of solid rocket motors are explored. Solid rocket motor materials, propellant grains and construction are examined. Applications for solid rocket motors both as weapons and as cost-effective space systems are explained. Liquid Rocket System Technology Turbo pumps vs. pressure-fed liquid rocket engines are compared. Liquid rocket elements (cryogenic and non cryogenic), such as injectors, cooling systems, control systems, tanks and structures, and pressurization systems, are explained. Three turbine cycles to power pumps are examined, and reasons for selection are examined. Foreign vs. American Rocket Technology An examination of the strengths and weaknesses of American verses foreign rocket technology is presented. Lessons learned from the former Soviet aerospace, with focus on the innovations of the Soyuz Program, illustrates how the most benefit can be gained from limited resources. The space programs of other countries, including Europe, China, India and Japan, are discussed. Rockets in Spacecraft Propulsion The differences between launch vehicle booster rocket systems, and the systems found on spacecraft, satellites and transfer stages operating in microgravity and using hypergolic storable propellants, are examined. Rockets Launch Sites and Operations The student is given an understanding of the role and purpose of launch sites, and the choices available for a launch operations infrastructure. Rockets and Missiles for Space Exploration and Commerce The spectrum of used for rockets in civil, commercial and military space missions is examined. Examples of commercial launch vehicle development, and alternative space transportation plans, are presented. Useful Orbits and Trajectories Made Simple A simplified presentation of orbital mechanics, appropriate for the understanding of the role of rocket propulsion in orbital trajectories and maneuvers, is provided to the student. Reliability and Safety of Rocket Systems The issues of safety and reliability of rocket and missile systems are addressed and explained. The hazards of rocket operations are examined. The reliability issues in rocket systems, and strategies to improve reliability, are discussed. Expendable Launch Vehicle Theory, Selection, Performance and Uses The student is provided an understanding of the continued dominance of expendable launch vehicles in the field of transportation from earth to low earth orbit. Reusable Launch Vehicle Theory and Performance The student is provided with an appreciation and understanding of why Reusable Launch Vehicles have had difficulty replacing expendable launch vehicles since the first operational space shuttle began service, and how the performance of Reusable Vehicles differs from Expendable systems. The Direction of Technology A final open discussion regarding the direction of rocket technology, science, usage and regulations of rockets and missiles is conducted to close out the class study. Tuition: Tuition for this three-day course is $1590 per person at one of our scheduled public courses. Onsite pricing is available. Please call us at 410-956-8805 or send an email to ati@ATIcourses.com. Register Now Without Obligation