MAE 208

ASSIGNED:
DUE:

Extra Credit Project

Seelecke

Spring 2009

April 14th, 2009

April 27th, 2009

This project is optional. Students who successfully attempt the project will earn up to five (5) points, which
will be added to the final score.

The objective of this extra credit project is to calculate the trajectories of a

spaceship traveling between earth and moon (see details in appendix) and to write a
professional report about the findings. The trajectory will be very similar to that of the
Apollo 10 mission. In order to solve the problem, you will have to numerically integrate
the equations of motion using MATLAB. As compared to typical problems in the
textbook, the project will expose you to a more realistic design and analysis problem of
the kind that you might encounter later on in your engineering career.
It is important to understand (and to show!) that you still apply the same solution strategy
as to every other problem solved during the semester.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)

Establish a convenient Coordinate System.

Draw out your Free Body Diagram for the object(s) you are solving for.
Write out your Equations of Motion. (one for each axis of the coordinate system)
Identify your parameters, (e.g. Force constants, mass, etc)
Enter your equations of motion into the MATLAB integration scheme
Systematically vary appropriate parameters and observe effect on solution.
State any assumptions you are making that clarify/simplify your system.

Your report should include the following parts:

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Abstract.
Introduction.
System approach and solution with explanation of all equations.
Implementation and explanation of MATLAB code.
Simulation results.
Conclusions.

Notes:

EVERY equation and EVERY figure needs to be labeled and have a detailed
explanation as to its purpose/usage.
Explain your reasoning for EVERYTHING such that anyone with only a basic
understanding of dynamics can understand it. Your ideas should flow clearly
through your report from start to finish.
You are writing a professional report; any opinion/conclusion must be supported
by facts and experimental/simulated evidence.
Keep everything SHORT but CLEAR.

Appendix

S-IVB-206

The third phase of the Apollo 10.208 mission

uses the S-IVB section of a Saturn V rocket shown
above to travel to the moon from an orbit around the
earth. In order to reach the moon, the ship fires its one
J2 engine for a calculated duration, called the trans
lunar injection (TLI) burn, at a certain point in the ships
orbit around the earth. That single TLI burn propels the
ship toward the moon such that the ship orbits around
the moon once and returns to earth safely without
having to use any other propulsion. NASA engineers
have the task of calculating the exact duration, down to
the millisecond, that the engine is fired, as well as the
exact position in space that the ship begins its TLI burn
in order to achieve such a trajectory.
Any
miscalculation could send the ship either crashing into
the moon, or sent far deep into space.

Your task, as an acting NASA engineer, is to perform a systematic study of the

effect of TLI burn time on the resulting trajectories and determine the TLI burn
time that will produce the desired trajectory.
Websites to find information:
(1) Apollo 10 Press Report and Official NASA Report:
http://www-lib.ksc.nasa.gov/lib/archives/apollo/pk/1APOLLO10.PDF
http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/a410/A10_MissionReport.pdf
(2) Saturn V, S-IVB section and the J-2 Rocket:
http://www.astronautix.com/engines/j2.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-IVB
To simplify the problem, you can make the following assumptions:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

The moon does not orbit the earth, i.e. the earth and moon are both stationary.
Consider the problem as 2D only.
The mass of the rocket ship remains constant.
Assume the ship is initially in a circular orbit 200 km above the earth.
Another NASA team has already determined that based on the launch location and
time, the TLI burn will be initiated at the location shown (NOT drawn to scale)

Fact Sheet:
S-IVB (3rd stage of Saturn V):
Manufacturer:
Height:
Diameter:
Mass:
Engine Type:
Thrust:
Fuel:

Douglas
17.8 m
6.6 m
1.5 x 105 kg
Single J-2
888 kN
LOX/LH2