Getting into Space Takes a Lot of Energy

Getting out of the atmosphere takes a lot of energyDepending upon your definition it is 62 to 72 miles thickWe will see some dramatic pictures of it later in this presentation.

There are Sub Orbital Trajectories and there are Orbital Trajectories.There are usually several stages required to accomplish an exit.A sub orbital Example is the Virgin Galactic approach

White Knight 2 and Space Ship 2

There are other examples of airplane first stage, and rocket second stage.An orbital example would be a typical rocket launch

1st stage – off the ground and through most of the atmosphere2nd stage – all the way out of the atmosphere, and accelerate to orbital velocity3rd stage – Orbital maneuvering and higher orbits.

Space Flight Launch Comparison (an approximation)

Sub-Orbital vs. Orbital Flight

S. Akerley 2011

Surface of Earth

Very Thin Atmosphere (120,000 ft)

Shuttle Flight Path

Edge of Atmosphere (400,000 ft)

Shuttle Rocket Boosters (SRB’s) Separate @ 2 minutes, 28 miles altitude (147,840 ft)60% Fuel Spent

<5% Continues into Orbit@ 600,000 ft, 17,600 MPH

Extremely Thin Atmosphere (250,000 ft)

Typical Rocket Flight Path

Space Ship Two (SS2)

White Knight Two (WK2)

Weightless for 5 minutes

SS2Rocket Plane

SS2

Glides to Landing

WK2Airplane