HOW DO ROCKET SHIPS KNOW WHERE TO GO? A GUIDE TO SPACE NAVIGATION

When rocket ships blast off into space, how do you know where they will go? How do rockets work in space? How do they turn and move in space? If you’ve ever wondered what happens to rocket ships after they leave the Earth’s atmosphere, you can find out more about space navigation in this article.

WHAT IS SPACE NAVIGATION ANYWAY?

In basic terms, space navigation is the process of figuring out the position of a spacecraft in outer space and the direction they are traveling. Specific instruments and processes are necessary to navigate through such a vast and unknown place. Space navigation is critical for a successful mission because of the vastness of space. Navigation must be precise to ensure that the spacecraft can complete its mission and return to Earth.

You’ve probably seen your parents use GPS to find a new place. If they didn’t have directions on where to turn and how far to go, they might never find their destination. The same concept applies to space travel and the need for navigation to prevent the spacecraft from getting lost.

HOW DO ROCKETS WORK IN SPACE? IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PUSH!

Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If an object is pushing on another object, the second object is pushing back with equal force. This law is necessary to understand how rockets take off from the ground, which is known as rocket propulsion.

Rocket propulsion uses the force necessary to cause the rocket to lift off from the ground. The propulsion includes propellants, tank pumps, and other components that make up the engine of the rocket. This system produces thrust, which causes the rocket to lift off into he air and go into space.

Think of it like this…if you fill up a balloon and tie it off, leaving just enough of an opening that the air deflates slowly, nothing much will happen. But, if you turn the balloon loose after blowing it up, the balloon will take off into the air until it’s deflated.

For a rocket to move forward once it’s in space, jets of hot gas are fired downward, which makes the rocket move upward. The momentum from the gases being ejected propels the rocket forward, known as the thrust of the rocket, an important component of space navigation.

STEERING WITHOUT A STEERING WHEEL?

Spacecraft use thrusters to steer them in the right direction when they get off-course. A thruster is a device that can provide low-thrust acceleration and perform other tasks to allow rockets to turn in space. Small thruster rockets are fired on both sides of the spacecraft in opposite directions. This action rotates the spacecraft. To stop the rotation, another pair of thrusters is fired, which creates an opposing force.

Photo Credit: Space.com

GUIDING THE WAY: THE TOOLS OF SPACE NAVIGATION

Several technologies have been developed to navigate spacecraft through space. These technologies work together to gather information and direct the spacecraft to the desired destination and return it back to Earth.

TRACKING FROM EARTH: OUR EYES IN THE SKY

Ground-based tracking through telescopes and radar allows scientists to monitor the spacecraft from Earth. These tools can provide information about the speed of the spacecraft and the direction it’s going. Space surveillance telescopes are a special kind of telescope that monitors objects moving in space. These telescopes capture images in space and analyze the movement of the object. They can detect a potential collision with debris and other objects, allowing the team to change the trajectory of the spacecraft. Space-based radar is another method employed to detect spacecraft. Radar can detect the presence of a spacecraft and determine the course it is following.

INERTIAL NAVIGATION: FEELING THE MOVEMENT

Two more tools are used to monitor spacecraft in space and assist with space navigation. The gyroscope measures the rate of rotation of an object and determines the angle of the spacecraft in motion. The accelerometer measures acceleration in a linear pattern and notates any changes in velocity as it moves in a straight line.

STAR TRACKERS: USING THE STARS AS A MAP

Before modern technology existed, many sailors used the stars to navigate on the ocean. They could determine the location of the stars in the sky, which would help orient them to which direction they needed to go to find land. Today, star trackers help map out the direction the spacecraft should travel in space. This equipment captures images of stars and recognizes patterns to compare with a star catalog, which can tell scientists where the spacecraft is located.

SUN AND PLANET SENSORS: FOLLOWING THE BRIGHT LIGHTS

Here on Earth, you can use the sun as a navigational device. If you know where it rises and sets, you can estimate the time of day and which direction you’re traveling. This same method can be utilized in space to determine where the spacecraft is traveling. Sensors detect heavenly bodies and identify their position, which helps scientists know how to navigate the spacecraft.

RADIO NAVIGATION: TALKING TO HOME BASE

Communication between the spacecraft and scientists on the ground can provide valuable information. The Deep Space Network (DSN) is a group of large radio antennas. These antennas can get information about where the spacecraft is and how it is doing. Because the DSN locations are scattered throughout the world, we always have the spacecraft in our sights. The length of time it takes to receive a message can help scientists know how far away the spacecraft is.

DEEP SPACE TRAVEL: A REAL CHALLENGE!

Interstellar travel isn’t possible at this time due to the vast distance between the solar system and the closest stars. To even travel within a few decades or centuries, the spacecraft must travel at the fraction of the speed of light, which requires an excessive amount of energy. Communication between the craft and Earth would take years. Even traveling within our solar system requires significant equipment maintenance and communication with regular data transmission. Precision is critical to maintaining the spacecraft’s position in deep space travel to ensure it doesn’t venture too far off course and become lost.

GRAVITY ASSISTS: A COSMIC FREE RIDE

Just as a slingshot can gain speed with the rock inside, gravity can accelerate the movement of a spacecraft. As you swing the slingshot around and around, it gains speed but never goes off-course. Gravity can have the same influence on the spacecraft, keeping it an even distance from Earth or another planet. It’s just another way that spacecraft move in space.

COURSE CORRECTIONS: TINY TWEAKS FOR A BIG IMPACT

A minor error in calculations can cause major impact for a spacecraft over a long distance. These small errors compound, which can mean a spacecraft goes far off-course if not corrected. Scientists must constantly monitor the spacecraft for any indication that correction is needed. The changes in trajectory may be small or there may be a larger alteration from hitting debris. Thrusters are essential components to course correction as they are fired in the necessary direction to bring the spacecraft back into its correct position.

THE AMAZING SCIENCE OF FINDING OUR WAY IN SPACE

Now, you’ve learned a little about how rockets turn in space and move around. Several methods exist for space navigation, each one offering unique benefits. Monitoring spacecraft from Earth with telescopes and radar allow you to keep track of the direction and speed while inertial navigation systems detect changes in motion. Star trackers also help orient the spacecraft to its relative position in the solar system and the sun and planet sensors allow you to alter the trajectory based on where they are located relative to the spacecraft.

Technology has advanced to make space navigation a reality with new methods continuing to be developed and tried that will expand space travel in the future. With the possibility of space travel becoming more frequent, it may happen that even kids will get to go to space sometime in the future.

Until space travel is as commonplace as taking a plane to a destination, you can enjoy taking flight at Flight Adventure Park on our indoor trampolines. Check out our locations and attractions and find a program that’s fun for you and your friends.

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