Power Source Evolution: A Brief History of Spaceships

Research Article
Open access

Power Source Evolution: A Brief History of Spaceships

Fanqin Pu 1 , Ruohan Yang 2* , Yuheng Wang 3
  • 1 School of Shanghai Guanghua Qidi International School, Shanghai 200000, China    
  • 2 School of Changjun High School International Department, Changsha, 410000, China    
  • 3 School of Bachuan Quantum Secondary School, Chongqing, China, 400000    
  • *corresponding author GabriellaScamander071.22@gmail.com
TNS Vol.5
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-53-9
ISBN (Online): 978-1-915371-54-6

Abstract

The transformation of the sun, the moon, and the stars, the visible but unreachable universe, has made generations of people fascinated by it. The rapid development of science and technology is the cornerstone of human exploration of space, and spacecraft is an indispensable and essential part of human space exploration. This paper introduces the development process of spacecraft from 1960 to the 21st century using literature collection, data integration, and other methods, focusing on the evolution of spacecraft power sources, supplemented by the evolution of spacecraft structure. According to the research results, it is concluded that the power source of the spacecraft shows a development trend from relatively low energy and efficiency to relatively high efficiency, and the structure of the spacecraft is in a development state from only supporting spacecraft exploration to realizing manned navigation.

Keywords:

Human spaceflight, Aerospace engineering, Power Source.

Pu,F.;Yang,R.;Wang,Y. (2023). Power Source Evolution: A Brief History of Spaceships. Theoretical and Natural Science,5,119-128.
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References

[1]. NASA | History - Sputnik. (2022). Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://history.nasa.gov/sputnik.html

[2]. Didlake, R., & Odinets, O. (2022). ARRLWeb: Sputnik and Amateur Radio. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20071011045828/http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/09/28/03/?nc=1

[3]. A, W. (2022). Shooting The Moon. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.americanheritage.com/shooting-moon

[4]. Apollo 11 Mission Overview. (2022). Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html

[5]. Okolski, G. (2022). STS-1 History. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://history.nasa.gov/sts1/history.html

[6]. Johnson, B. (2022). Power Sources for Space Exploration. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph240/johnson1/

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[24]. Sutter, P. (2022). Is Interstellar Travel Really Possible? Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.space.com/is-interstellar-travel-possible.html

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[26]. Picot, W., 2022. Nuclear Technology Set to Propel and Power Future Space Missions, IAEA Panel Says. [online] Iaea.org. Available at: <https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/nuclear-technology-set-to-propel-and-power-future-space-missions-iaea-panel-says> [Accessed 21 September 2022].

[27]. Drake, N. (2022). NASA's 'Impossible' EmDrive Engine Tested—Here Are the Results. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/nasa-emdrive-impossible-physics-independent-tests-magnetic-space-science

[28]. Borunda, M. (2022). Warp drives: Physicists give chances of faster-than-light space travel a boost. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.space.com/physicists-give-warp-drives-a-boost

Cite this article

Pu,F.;Yang,R.;Wang,Y. (2023). Power Source Evolution: A Brief History of Spaceships. Theoretical and Natural Science,5,119-128.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Computing Innovation and Applied Physics (CONF-CIAP 2023)

ISBN：978-1-915371-53-9(Print) / 978-1-915371-54-6(Online)
Editor：Marwan Omar, Roman Bauer
Conference website: https://www.confciap.org/
Conference date: 25 March 2023
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.5
ISSN：2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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References

[1]. NASA | History - Sputnik. (2022). Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://history.nasa.gov/sputnik.html

[2]. Didlake, R., & Odinets, O. (2022). ARRLWeb: Sputnik and Amateur Radio. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20071011045828/http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/09/28/03/?nc=1

[3]. A, W. (2022). Shooting The Moon. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.americanheritage.com/shooting-moon

[4]. Apollo 11 Mission Overview. (2022). Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html

[5]. Okolski, G. (2022). STS-1 History. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://history.nasa.gov/sts1/history.html

[6]. Johnson, B. (2022). Power Sources for Space Exploration. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph240/johnson1/

[7]. The Russian Soyuz spacecraft. (2022). Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/The_Russian_Soyuz_spacecraft

[8]. What Powers a Spacecraft? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids. (2022). Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/what-powers-a-spacecraft/en/

[9]. Clark, John. Ignition! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants. Rutgers University Press. pp. 214–220. ISBN 978-0-8135-0725-5.

[10]. Ertel, I. D., & Mary, L. M. (2007). The Apollo Spacecraft - A Chronology. Vol. 1. Retrieved from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4009/contents.htm#Volume%20I

[11]. National Space & Air Museum, Smithsonian Institution. (2019, 7 15). A Brief History of the Apollo Program. Retrieved from Smithsonian Institution: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/brief-history-apollo-program

[12]. NASA. (n.d.). Apollo 11 Command and Service Module (CSM). Retrieved from NASA Space Science Coordinated Archive: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-059A

[13]. Fuel Cells Launched to the Moon Realized the Dream of Mankind. (2022). Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/story/CONT0000000000001856

[14]. NASA. (n.d.). Apollo 11 Lunar Module / EASEP. Retrieved from NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-059C

[15]. Wall, M. (2012, 9 12). JFK's 'Moon Speech' Still Resonates 50 Years Later. Retrieved from SPACE.com: https://www.space.com/17547-jfk-moon-speech-50years-anniversary.htm

[16]. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (2021, 5 5). Starship SN15 flight test. Retrieved from SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-sn15-flight-test/

[17]. Space Exploration Technologies Corps. (n.d.). Starship. Retrieved from SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/

[18]. Tarlik, M. (2019, 3 23). SpaceX's Hexagon Tiles for Starship Heat Shield Pass Fiery Test. Retrieved from SPACE.com: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-hexagon-heat-shield-tile-test.html

[19]. Ali, I. (2021, 8 27). From Starhopper to SN20, a brief timeline of the SpaceX Starship development. Retrieved from Tesla Oracle: https://www.teslaoracle.com/2021/08/27/from-starhopper-to-sn20-a-brief-timeline-of-the-spacex-starship-development/

[20]. Arevalo, E. J. (2019, 11 24). SpaceX Starship Timeline: Making Life Multi-planetary. Retrieved from Tesmanian: https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/spacex-mars-timeline

[21]. Leman, J. (2019, 11 22). SpaceX's Starship Prototype Mk1 Blows Its Top During Cryogenic Pressure Test. Retrieved from Popular Mechanics: https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a29871777/starship-mk1-explosion/

[22]. Ryan, J. (2021, 2 25). First SpaceX Starship moon passenger teases update on #dearMoon project. Retrieved from CNET: https://www.cnet.com/science/first-spacex-starship-moon-passenger-teases-update-on-dearmoon-project/

[23]. Mauldin, John H. (May 1992). Prospects for interstellar travel. Published for the American Astronautical Society by Univelt. “Interstellar travel.”

[24]. Sutter, P. (2022). Is Interstellar Travel Really Possible? Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.space.com/is-interstellar-travel-possible.html

[25]. Tackett, S. (2022). Nuclear Pulse Propulsion: Gateway to the Stars. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.ans.org/news/article-1294/nuclear-pulse-propulsion-gateway-to-the-stars/

[26]. Picot, W., 2022. Nuclear Technology Set to Propel and Power Future Space Missions, IAEA Panel Says. [online] Iaea.org. Available at: <https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/nuclear-technology-set-to-propel-and-power-future-space-missions-iaea-panel-says> [Accessed 21 September 2022].

[27]. Drake, N. (2022). NASA's 'Impossible' EmDrive Engine Tested—Here Are the Results. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/nasa-emdrive-impossible-physics-independent-tests-magnetic-space-science

[28]. Borunda, M. (2022). Warp drives: Physicists give chances of faster-than-light space travel a boost. Retrieved 4 September 2022, from https://www.space.com/physicists-give-warp-drives-a-boost

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