A launch vehicle is a space vehicle (usually a rocket or the lower part of a rocket) designed to send a payload (a probe, a satellite or a smaller rocket) into space. The launch vehicle will carry its payload to its destination, e.g. the Moon's surface.
The launch vehicle is only a carrier, meaning that after completing its mission it falls back to Earth and usually burn up into the atmosphere or remains useless in orbit. If it remains in orbit for too long, a rocket can recover the useless rocket or clear it using the Clear Debris button.
In practice, the launch vehicle can be considered the lower stages of the rocket, on which a player can attach a specific rocket for certain missions.
Structure[]
A launch vehicle consists of fuel tanks and powerful engines and usually has two stages. The first stage will barely bring the payload into orbit. There may be solid rocket boosters to help generate more thrust for the rocket. It usually consists of large fuel tanks and a powerful high-thrust engine that can escape Earth's gravity to push it out into space. The second stage usually consists of a small but efficient engine, a small fuel tank and a fairing on top.
Mission[]
The launch vehicle starts its journey by igniting its engines and it lifts off from the launch pad. After leaving the launch pad it will start turning to one side to get to orbit easily.
As the rocket gets higher and as it approaches to the speed of sound, max q will occur and it will usually throttle down. When the aerodynamic forces ease the launch vehicle throttles up again to continue its journey to space. As the fuel drops down, the launch vehicle will speed up even faster because it becomes lighter.
When the boosters run out of fuel, they separate from the core stage and fall back down to Earth to be disposed or to be recovered. The launch vehicle is now at a steeper angle to get to orbit easier.
If it has an astronaut capsule and a launch escape system, the launch escape system will separate because the rocket's too high to be needed and the capsule will return on its own in case of an emergency.
When the rocket is nearing the vacuum of space, the fairings separate because it's no longer needed. They will then fall back down to Earth.
When the first stage expends all of its fuel, it's time to separate it. The first stage will burn up into the atmosphere or stay in orbit. The second stage fires after staging to push the rocket further until it reaches orbit. After it reaches orbit, it will usually separate its payload to begin its mission.
Gallery[]
Examples of launch vehicles[]
- Saturn V
- Atlas V
- Ariane 5
- Space Launch System
- Space Shuttle