The Mathematics of Space Rendezvous

NASA has a variety of classroom activities designed to accompany the video. Click here to explore.

Overview
The NASA video illustrates the use of

algebra and estimation in shuttle flight and rendezvous. The accompanying slides demonstrate the problems that the astronauts pose and provide extra support as the problems are worked.

NASA has developed a learning guide to accompany this video.

Rendezvous
Have you ever missed an appointment?

How did it make you feel? How did it make the other party feel?

Rendezvous
What is a rendezvous?
See the video for definitions.

How can you plan ahead

to get there on time? How do astronauts calculate where and when to meet in space?

Math The Language of the Universe

Mathematics is

an essential part of space travel. Mathematics even helps us travel on earth.

It is more than numbers and symbols!

Math The Language of the Universe

What instruments did early space

travelers use to calculate mathematical equations? What instruments do space travelers use today to calculate mathematical equations?

Math aboard the Space Shuttle

The Shuttle Design The Launch

Navigation
The Landing

The Rendezvous
NASA

Rendezvous

Can you think of examples of rendezvous?

Rendezvous
Is like playing frisbee

catch with a dog.

Is like a quarterback

throwing a timing route pass to a wide receiver.

Questions
First: What question needs to be answered? When will the target (the Mir) be at the rendezvous site (over Moscow)?

The Target
Gather the known facts:
Altitude of 400 kilometers. Orbit is at 92 minutes. Incline of the orbit is 51.6. Earth revolves once

every 24 hours.

NASA

Find out more about the Mir.

The Target
More facts: Moscow is at 37 E longitude. Mirs present longitude is at 105 E.

Questions
Review the questions again: When will the target be at the rendezvous site? When will it pass over the rendezvous site?

Check out where the space station is right now on this real time site.

Questions
What other information do we need to solve this problem?
Degrees the earth rotates in the time it takes Mir to make one orbit.

Set Up the Equations

Recall known and previous given facts:
360 in a full circle or

around the earth. The earth rotates once in 24 hours. Mirs orbit takes 92 minutes.

NASA

Set Up the Equations

The following ratio determines how far the

Earth rotates with each orbit of the Mir

360 = x 24 hours 92 min
We need these in common terms, lets

change the hours into minutes.

(24 hours is 1440 minutes)
Here is the problem again: 360 = x 1440 min 92 min

Questions
What other information do we need to solve this problem?
How far it is between Moscow and

where the space station is currently. The angular distance between the Mirs present location and its rendezvous point is 105o 37o or 68o.

Questions
What other information do we need to solve this problem?
How long it takes Mir to make one orbit.

We were given this information earlier.

Mirs orbit takes 92 minutes.

Calculate

X = 92 min x 360 = 23o

1440 min
The Earth rotates 23 each time Mir
o

circles it once.
To rendezvous at the designated
o

location, the Earth must rotate 68 .

Calculate
Mir must circle Earth.

23 68 orbit or 3 orbits
o

If it takes 92 min per orbit, then

min 3 orbits x 92orbit = 276 min = 4.6 hrs

Orbital Altitude
How does orbital altitude affect an objects travel?
Speed Orbit Rendezvous

Questions
How fast is Mir

traveling in its orbit? How fast is the shuttle traveling? How can be at the same place and match speed?

NASA

Gather the Facts

Mirs altitude is 400 km and

speed is 92 min/revolution.
The shuttles altitude is 298

km and speed is 89 min/revolution.

The Earths radius is 6,378

km.

Known Facts
Orbit is almost a

circle
Circumference of

a circle C = 2r

NASA

Known Facts
Equation for speed Speed = Distance/Time

Mirs Orbit
First the formula:

Speed = C (Mirs orbit) / R (minutes)

Then the facts:

Mir orbits at a distance of 6,378 + 400 km

Find Mirs orbit:

C (Mirs orbit) = 6,778 km x 2(pi) = 42,578 km per orbit.

Mirs Speed
The formula again:

Speed = C (Mirs orbit) / R (minutes)

Put in Mirs orbit:

Speed = 42,587 km/92 min

Solve the equation:

Speed of Mir = 463 km/min = 27,780 km/hr

Speed of the Shuttle

First the formula:

Speed = C (shuttle) / R (minutes)

Find the shuttle orbital radius:

637 km x 298 km = 41,947 km

Put in the facts:

Speed = 41,947 km / 89 min

Calculate:

Speed of the Shuttle = 471 km/min = 28,260 km/hr

Slow Down to Rendezvous

The space shuttle must slow down

to rendezvous with Mir.

To slow down,

the shuttle will climb to Mirs higher orbit.

Gather the Facts

0.4 meters per second increase in

velocity equals 1 km increase in altitude.

Present altitude

is 298 km.
Need to increase

altitude to 305 km.

Question
How many meters per second does the shuttle need to increase to rise 7 km?

NASA

Set Up the Equations

Desired current = needed increase in altitude 305 km 298 km = 7 km Recall: 0.4 m/s increase in velocity = 1 km increase in altitude . 7 (km) / 1 (km) x .4 (m/s) = 2.8 m/s
An increase of 2.8 m/s will increase the orbit of the shuttle 7 km and actually slow it down!

Shuttle Instruments
Shuttle instruments

NASA Virtual view of Mir through the shuttle window.

can show this process graphically. The astronauts can also see the Mir through the windows.

Views from Space

The video is showing videos that were taken by the astronauts. More videos and photos are available at NASAs web site.
NASA

NASA

Click on this slide to see more photos.

It takes Math to Rendezvous in Space

The astronauts use both: Computer calculations Math estimation skills

Try another math activity with airplanes.

Math of the Universe

Whether it is using scientific notation to measure the microscopic or astronomic, whether it is estimation or calculus, mathematics plays a big part in science.

Read more about experiments performed aboard the shuttle and space station.

Math on Earth
The video is showing some examples of everyday activities that need math. Can you think of others?

Explore a web site with activities focusing on every day math.

Math and Rendezvous

The video and slides have illustrated a

few problems that the space shuttle astronauts need to estimate while on a single space flight. Space travel and travel on earth have similarities. Work with your class to create earth examples of rendezvous.

Math and Rendezvous

Math is an important part of making meetings in space and on earth prompt and accurate.

The Technology Leadership Institute (TLI) is funded by the United States Department of Education's Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to use Technology (PT3) Program (Catalyst grant - P342A990323).