Launch Simulation of a Saturn V Rocket
The first step of almost any space mission is to place a satellite or capsule into high Earth orbit, a task that can only reasonably be accomplished with a multi-stage rocket. The mathematical concepts necessary for achieving a circular orbit of the desired altitude at the desired time are quite complex, so the goal of this simulation is to reduce such complexities down to a visual representation of the launch and orbital insertion of the rocket. Specifically, the motion of a Saturn V rocket, of the type that sent astronauts to the moon, will be examined. This visualization should allow viewers to grasp the nature of some of the maneuvers necessary to reach the moon, while additionally giving a sense of the altitudes and speeds that these rockets reached.
