Zero Point Frontiers Corp. Instarocket for iPad
Click here to be transferred to the Instarocket page on the iTunes App Store
Have an iPad? Want to try your hand at being an amateur launch vehicle designer? Or just want to impress your friends and colleagues with your deep understanding of rocket design and propulsion? Instarocket is an educational tool for you to learn about sizing and earth-to-orbit launch vehicles.
Instarocket is developed by Zero Point Frontiers Corp. (ZPFC), an engineering firm with expertise in design integration, system analysis, architecture development, and decision management. We provide payload and subsystem analysis and integration support of large-scale space flight systems composed of inter-dependent vehicles, systems and infrastructure for government and commercial customers.
Instarocket is our first attempt to translate some of the techniques and expertise that we use when working with NASA and the aerospace industry into an educational tool that can help others understand more about engineering, design, and propulsion systems. We will continue to refine this product, and create additional products for iPad, iPhone, and Mac, that will support this outreach.
And, if you like what you see, and would like to procure our services, please contact us at www.zeropointfrontiers.com.
When designing a launch vehicle, the first step is sizing the stages to get a desired amount of payload into orbit. This tool will help you learn about how sizing of a launch vehicle works, as well as how rockets work. The included extensive help files will walk you through the basics of orbits, rocket propulsion, delta-v, delta-v goals and delta-v penalties. The language is casual and intended for people new to launch vehicles. Equations are included for better understanding of the concepts.
Features:
Simple diagram showing launch vehicle layout
Diagram shows volume of fuel vs oxidizer
User-controlled sliders for stage propellant loads
User-controlled slider for payload mass
Dynamic updates for all outputs
Email configuration information from within the app
Extensive help file:
Descriptions of all terminology
Introduction material for how rockets work
Support for AirPrint from help files
Inputs:
Vehicle diameter
Interstage and shroud masses
Stage PMF, number of engines, fuel type
Engine Isp, thrust, and length
Outputs:
Mass breakdowns
Delta-v for each stage
Delta-v bonus/penalty for each stage
Total delta-v
Delta-v margin for orbit insertion
Planned features for upcoming 1.1 release:
Metric inputs and outputs
File management
TUTORIAL
This tutorial will provide a quick walk-through of a couple of scenarios. It is intended to give an idea of the mechanics of the app without covering any rocket design terminology or theory.
QUICK START
To get started we will optimize the starting configuration. We first notice that the dV margin is negative so this configuration is not viable yet.
• Start by sliding the payload slider to the left until a positive Delta-V margin is shown.
• Next slide the stage 1 propellant slider all the way to the right.
• Note that the dV margin went up the whole way.
• Next slide the stage 2 propellant to the right.
• Note that the dV margin goes up for a bit, then back down. The clue to watch for is the Stage 2 Delta-V Bonus. When it goes negative, start to slow down the adjustment and look for the place with the highest margin (should be about 1000).
• Slide the payload weight to the right until the dV margin is negative, then go back just enough until it is positive again.
• Note that the stage 2 dV bonus is negative again
• Slide the stage 2 propellant left until it is positive
• Slide the payload weight to the right and left and note that we've found the highest we can get.
• Max payload should be about 150,000-151,500 lbm
At this point you've successfully found the optimal stage split for this configuration for the maximum payload it can put into orbit.
TIPS AND TRICKS
To reduce the step size on the payload slider, under the "Vehicle" options reduce the "Max Payload"
To reduce the max propellant for the stages, under the "Vehicle" options reduce the "Max Stage Length" or "Diameter"
FAQ
1. How do I save my vehicle configuration? There is no way to save a configuration in Instarocket 1.0. The upcoming Pro version will allow multiple configuration file management.
2. How do I send my vehicle configuration to my email account?
3. Click the "Options" button and select "Email Config". Send to any address.
4. How do I reset to the default vehicle configuration?
5. Click the "Options" button and select "Reset".
6. How do I learn more about vehicle and engine terminology?
7. For each item in the app there is a small icon just to the left that looks like a lower case "i" in a circle. Click the "i" for a quick explanation and click "More Info" for a more detailed explanation.
8. Is there a way to adjust multiple vehicles simultaneously?
9. No. Instarocket is currently only able to size 1 vehicle at a time.
10. Why are some parameters highlighted in red and green?
11. The red and green are meant to be a visual cue when a particular item is "good" or "bad". The stage 1 T/W ratio needs to be above 1.0 so if it is less that 1.0 it will turn red to draw attention. The total delta-v needs to be 30,000 ft/s and it will turn red and green based on the value.
12. When I change the diameter, why does the height change also?
13. Since the mass of propellant is already set by the sliders, if the diameter is change the length must change to ensure the proper amount of volume is available for the propellant.
14. How do I add a stage?
15. Currently Instarocket can only do 2 stages.
16. Are there other options for engine fuel besides RP and LH2?
17. No, Instarocket only supports these 2 for now.
18. How do I contact ZPFC for technical support?
19. Send an email to support@zeropointfrontiers.com
20. When can we expect Instarocket to incorporate loads/structural and/or trajectory analysis?
21. There are many features we are exploring for the future of Instarocket. Check back for new features