Equipment for Space Travel
Spacecrafts need to be equipped with an array of features so that the crew inside it can be safe and work properly.
The distance and duration undertaken by a spacecraft demand a reliable system that can be operated far from home. The system should have lightweight, so the rocket can carry it. Most importantly, it should provide all the emergency needs of the astronauts.
Spacecrafts need to be equipped with several instruments to keep the crew safe while traveling in space. The spacecraft should fulfill the following criteria:
Reliability in the operation of the system far from home.
Instruments should be capable of keeping the astronauts alive in case of an emergency.
The systems should be light enough to be launched by rockets.
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In this article, let us learn about various equipment that are used during space travel.
Equipment Needed for Space Travel
1. Systems to Live and Breathe
As humans travel long distance, farther from Earth, highly reliable systems are required to keep them alive. They should also have a minimum mass and volume.
Orion spacecraft will be equipped with life support systems and advanced environmental control systems designed specifically for a deep space mission. A high-tech system has also been tested aboard the space station, which will remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and humidity from Orion.
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2. Proper Propulsion
The farther the distance that a vehicle ventures into space, the more capable its propulsion system should be to maintain its journey with precision. It should also ensure safe travel for the crew.
Orion is equipped with an advanced service module, which is the powerhouse of the spacecraft. It provides the propulsion capability to Orion, thereby enabling it to go around Mars and return on its exploration missions.
The service module consists of 33 engines of different sizes.
3. The Ability to Hold Off the Heat
Space travel is not an easy task. The farther a spacecraft travels in space, the more heat it will generate when it returns to Earth.
Traveling to space and getting back requires technologies that are capable of enduring speeds 30 times that of sound and heat twice as that of molten lava.
4. Radiation Protection
Spacecraft travel in high radiation environments that have a greater amount of charged particles and solar storms that are capable of causing disruptions in the working equipment of the spacecraft.
Spacecraft should be made up of materials so that it can withstand such radiations.
5. Constant Communication and Navigation
Spacecraft travel beyond the Global Positioning System (GPS) in space. They travel beyond the communication satellites that orbit Earth.
Orion spacecraft will use all three of NASA’s space communications networks to communicate with mission control in Houston.
Orion will switch its communication from Near Earth Network to the Space Network while it rises from the launch pad. This will be made possible by the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites.
What Tools are Used to Explore Space?
Imagine that you are in a spacecraft orbiting the Earth. You’re probably traveling with a speed of 27 000 km/h through the vacuum of space.
You will need several exploration equipments to do so in your spacecraft. Some of the space exploration equipment is mentioned below.
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i. Density
To rise in space, the first thing that is needed to lift the spacecraft into orbit is a rocket packed with fuel. Usually, it takes 100 kg of rocket & fuel to launch 1 kg of spacecraft.
For the lifting force to work outright, these machines are created from less dense material like aluminum allows, which is the same as used during aircraft.
ii. Getting Tough
People might have these thoughts that vacuum are usually empty, but actually, they are not, instead you’ll come across a lot of hazards.
For instance, there are issues related to space debris, and also old spacecraft materials.
In this instance, one can get rid of collisions of these huge pieces by shifting up/down a little. However, the smallest pieces are hard to get rid of as one cannot locate its position easily.
iii. Testing Times
One best way to test materials for using in space is by taking samples into orbit and exposing them to the atmosphere. Here, you can find a suitcase panel being covered in samples of electronic devices, coatings, and other materials.
As such, these will return to Earth where materials scientists will recognize its suitability to use them in upcoming crafts.
Space Engineering
It is actually the aerospace engineers who identify the designs to reckon whether the items meet the guidelines of engineering.
They design missiles, satellites, spacecraft, and primarily aircraft. Further, they create & test prototypes to ensure they operate as per the given design.
The duty is an aerospace engineer is outlined here below:
Direct & co-ordinate the design, manufacturing processes, and test the aerospace and aircraft item products.
Operate proposals to identify whether they are financially and technically reachable.
Identify whether the projects will result in safe operations that meet the determined objectives
Calculate the designs to check if the projects observe environmental regulations, customer needs, and other engineering principles.
Create feasible criteria needed to design quality attainable, sustainment, and other methods before the completion timeframe.
Make sure that projects attain the highest-quality principle-based standards.
FAQs on Space Travel Equipment
1. What are the essential categories of equipment required for human space travel?
For any human space mission, several critical categories of equipment are essential for safety and success. These can be grouped as follows:
- Life Support Systems: To provide breathable air, manage carbon dioxide levels, supply water, and handle waste.
- Propulsion Systems: Engines and thrusters that provide the necessary force for launch, in-space manoeuvres, and returning to Earth.
- Thermal Protection Systems: Heat shields and insulation designed to protect the spacecraft from the extreme heat of atmospheric re-entry and the cold of space.
- Radiation Shielding: Special materials integrated into the spacecraft's hull to protect the crew and electronics from harmful cosmic and solar radiation.
- Communication and Navigation Systems: Advanced networks to maintain constant contact with mission control and to navigate accurately in deep space, far beyond GPS range.
- Structural and Mechanical Systems: The physical frame and components of the spacecraft, built from lightweight yet durable materials.
2. What is a life support system in a spacecraft and what are its main functions?
A life support system is a group of devices that allow astronauts to live and work in the harsh environment of space. Its primary function is to create a habitable, Earth-like environment inside a sealed spacecraft. Key functions include:
- Atmosphere Management: It supplies oxygen for breathing and removes exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) to prevent it from reaching toxic levels.
- Water Management: It recycles and purifies water from various sources, including cabin humidity and astronaut waste, providing clean water for drinking and hygiene.
- Waste Management: It collects and processes human waste and other refuse generated during the mission.
- Temperature and Humidity Control: It maintains a comfortable and stable temperature and humidity level inside the cabin.
3. Why are special materials like aluminium alloys used to build spacecraft instead of common metals like steel?
Spacecraft are built using special materials like aluminium or titanium alloys instead of common metals like steel primarily due to the strength-to-weight ratio. Every kilogram launched into space requires a massive amount of rocket fuel. Therefore, the structure must be as lightweight as possible to make the launch feasible and efficient. While steel is very strong, it is also very dense and heavy. Aerospace-grade aluminium alloys provide excellent strength and durability at a much lower weight, making them the ideal choice for constructing the main body of a spacecraft.
4. How does a spacecraft's heat shield protect it during the extreme temperatures of atmospheric re-entry?
A heat shield, or Thermal Protection System (TPS), protects a spacecraft from the immense heat generated during atmospheric re-entry, which can be twice as hot as molten lava. It works through a process called ablation. The shield is made of special materials that are designed to char and vaporise layer by layer when exposed to extreme heat. As the material burns away, it carries the heat away from the spacecraft's structure, preventing the critical systems and crew inside from overheating. This sacrificial burning is a highly effective way to dissipate the intense thermal energy.
5. Why is radiation protection a critical design feature for equipment used in deep space travel?
Radiation protection is critical because outside of Earth's protective magnetic field, astronauts and sensitive electronics are exposed to high levels of cosmic rays and solar radiation. This radiation can damage human DNA, increasing long-term health risks, and disrupt or destroy electronic components, potentially leading to mission failure. Therefore, spacecraft designed for deep space missions, like travel to Mars, must have hulls made of materials that can effectively block or absorb this harmful radiation, ensuring the safety of the crew and the reliability of the space travel equipment.
6. How does a spacecraft navigate and communicate when it is too far from Earth for GPS and standard satellites to work?
Once a spacecraft travels beyond the range of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and near-Earth communication satellites, it relies on NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN). The DSN is a worldwide network of large radio antennas located in the United States, Spain, and Australia. This global placement ensures that a spacecraft is always in view of at least one station. By sending and receiving signals through these powerful antennas, mission control can:
- Track the spacecraft's exact position and trajectory.
- Send commands to the spacecraft.
- Receive vital data and scientific information from the mission.
This system provides constant and reliable communication and navigation for missions across the solar system.
