Can you build a space ship?

Building a spacecraft can be surprisingly simple. You can buy a kit off the Internet for about the cost of a used car and make something that will function in orbit around the Earth for a few weeks or months.

Is it legal to build a rocket and go to space?

Yes it is legal. However, in order to get to space, your rocket must pass through either some country’s airspace, or through airspace above the ocean.

What could a space ship do if it stopped because it ran out of fuel?

Even when the thrust that comes from the fuel runs out, the space ship will still move forward thanks to the momentum that came from the fuel. This momentum will then carry the space ship forward on the same trajectory that it was already travelling, even when the fuel runs out and the engine shuts off.

Can you build a rocket out of wood?

Short answer: Yes, but you’d be asking for trouble. “In terms of strength, wood is pretty good,” says Mike Gruntman, professor of astronautics at the University of Southern California. Early airplanes were built with wood, all the way into the early 1930s.

Will wood survive in space?

Wood and glue would outgas any remaining water and would get brittle. A protection against the very intensive UV radiation as well as against micro meteorites would be necessary. But every kind of wood, glue and varnish used should be space rated.

Is there any wood in space?

Not only did the piece of wood come from the apple tree that inspired Isaac Newton to develop his theory of gravity, but wood is also useful in space. Balsa wood was used as a crushable impact attenuator to protect delicate components such as transmitters when spacecraft were deliberately crash-landed on the moon.

How do space ships get supplies?

Consumables and supplies can also be sent on large pods as well. Each ship will meet up with one or more external fuel tanks (in the manner of the space shuttle) boosted into orbit on a Sea Dragon. This means the spacecraft will have two or more 550 ton tanks with extra reaction mass or other supplies attached. Interplanetary craft in flight.

What are the limitations of a space ship’s size?

The first fundamental limitation to a space vessel’s size is material strength. Beyond a certain point, whatever material your ship is made of will collapse under its own weight without exotic active materials. We can do some estimates using the Lane-Emden equationto predict the stresses the spacecraft will have to endure.

How big does the generation ship need to be?

In case this isn’t obvious, this takes place in near future conditions. The Generation Ship must be big enough to hold and support at least 500 people. The Generation Ship must be built within the scope of 4 years, but we can prepare for another 3 before that.

Why do people leave the generation ship?

The reason for them leaving is out of the scope of this question, but there are a few things you need to know: In case this isn’t obvious, this takes place in near future conditions. The Generation Ship must be big enough to hold and support at least 500 people.