space instruments?

Question

instruments used when travelling outer space

Answer 1

Rockets are controlled (in direction) by Inertial Guidance Systems. The IGS contains accelerometers, which measure velocity in four directions: forward, side to side, a rolling motion, and up and down. An onboard computer is programmed before launch, with instructions as to how fast and in what directions to travel. So, when the accelerometers "tell" the computer that the rocket has gone in some direction, for some time, then the computer knows that the target "velocity" and point in space has been reached, so the rocket shuts down (and usually separates from the payload).

Accelerometers are also used while in space. They are not limited by "weightlessness", so using some reference point (such as a star), the spacecraft is oriented, the accelerometers are zeroed out (so to speak) and new speed or direction instructions can be entered for course adjustments.

Radar is used for rendezvous and docking, clocks are important for timing of maneuvers and scheduling experiments. Conventional aeronautical instruments such as artificial horizons, turn and slip indicators, and so on are useless without gravity, but are used in some form after a spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere and is on a glide (if that is the type of spacecraft it is). In communication satellites sun sensors and accelerometers are used to keep attitude. In deep space navigation small telescopes are used to detect stars for attitude control (an upgraded sextant type instrument was used on Apollo moon flights).

There is (or was) a book in print that outlined the entire Space Shuttle System, and included a large print (actually a series of them) of the cockpit, including all the instruments on the panels. If you can find that you can learn more.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Computers, radar.

Answer 3

guidance systems,telemetry instuments

Answer 4

clocks, radio, electric meters, thermometers, rulers, ...

Answer 5

what exactly are you trying to ask?