                               Science Software
                                 
                                 AERONAUTICS

                          Written by C. David Eagle

The Science Software Aeronautics Disk contains several QuickBASIC source and 
executable programs in the areas of model rocketry, gliders and hot air 
ballooning. To encourage use of the metric system, all aeronautics programs 
require metric inputs and provide results in units of the metric system.

Several programs are available to help the model rocketeer predict the 
altitude performance of single stage model rockets, and the glide performance 
of boost and rocket gliders. All rocketry programs require the user to input 
the launch site altitude and temperature. This information is used to 
compensate for "non-standard" flying conditions such as hot or cold days and 
launch sites which are not at sea level.

Each altitude prediction program requires the model rocket engine performance 
and the model rocket mass, diameter and drag coefficient. Both altitude 
programs provide the following information to the user; 
     
     (1) burnout altitude and velocity 
     (2) coast time and total flight time 
     (3) maximum altitude 
     
Both prediction programs will also work with clustered single stage rockets.

The glide performance program requires the following inputs; 

     (1) initial flight altitude 
     (2) wingspan and wing area 
     (3) zero-lift drag coefficient and wing efficiency factor 
     
The following information is provided to the user for both the maximum range 
and maximum duration flight conditions; 

     (1) glide speed and glide angle 
     (2) horizontal range rate-of-descent 
     (3) lift-to-drag ratio

The following is a brief description of each of the aeronautics programs:

ATMOS is a utility program which determines properties of the standard
atmosphere. The user can specify an initial and final altitude and altitude 
increment and this program determines the density, pressure and temperature 
at each altitude.

ROCKET1 is a program which determines the flight performance of a single stage 
model rocket using an analytical or "exact" solution. This program solves the 
problem of model rocket vertical motion by assuming "average" flight 
conditions.

ROCKET2 is a program which determines the flight performance of a single
stage model rocket by numerically integrating the equations of motion. The
user can specify a launch angle and the program solves the problem of
non-vertical motion. The user can also display and print the results at each 
integration step. The information displayed includes the flight time, vertical 
altitude, horizontal range, velocity, mass, thrust and aerodynamic drag. This 
program models the variation of density with altitude and the changes in 
thrust and mass with time. Aerodynamic drag is updated as a function of 
altitude and velocity.

ROCKET3 is a program which determines the "best" launch mass of a single stage 
model rocket which maximizes total altitude. This program assumes vertical 
motion and uses the analytic solution described above. It also compensates for 
"non-standard" flying conditions.

GLIDER is a program which determines the maximum range and maximum endurance 
flight conditions of boost and rocket gliders. These are the conditions when 
the glider will fly the farthest or stay in the air the longest time. This 
program is also applicable to sailplanes, hang gliders and radio control 
gliders.

BALLOON is a program which can be used to determine the performance capability 
of hot air balloons. The payload weight lifting capability, gas temperature, 
balloon volume and the maximum altitude capability can be determined 
accurately with this program. BALLOON requires a combination of the following 
user inputs; 

     (1) launch site altitude and temperature 
     (2) liftoff weight 
     (3) balloon volume 
     (4) gas temperature 
     (5) flight altitude 
     
From any combination of three items (2, 3, 4 or 5), program BALLOON provides 
the user with the fourth item. This program also computes the air temperature 
at the balloon's altitude. The launch site altitude and temperature are 
required in order to compensate for "non-sea level" conditions such as hot or 
cold days and flying locations which may not be at sea level.

The Aeronautics disk also contains two symbolic "equation" files used by the
program Mercury to solve the same problem described in ROCKET3 above. The
original equation file is called ROCKET.EKA and the solution report file is
called ROCKET.RPT. These equation files are described in Volume 4, Number 4 
of "Celestial Computing". Mercury is the successor to the Eureka program once 
marketed by Borland. It is a shareware program available from many BBS's and 
shareware distributors. A registered version is available from Real Software,
P.O. Box 1680, Soquel, CA 95073.

IMPORTANT!!

All aeronautics executable programs require the BRUN45.EXE run-time program. 
If you have the QuickBASIC compiler, they can be re-compiled as stand-alone
executable programs. Each *.BAS program will also run (slower) with the QBASIC 
interpreter included with DOS 5.0 and later.
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Information about "Celestial Computing" and other Science Software products 
can be requested from:

     Science Software
     P.O. Box 2188
     Reston, VA 22090-0188

     Attention: David Eagle

     (703) 815-8834

The Science Software BBS is also available at this telephone number between
6 p.m. and 4 a.m. EST during the week and 24 hours a day on weekends.

Please send all technical questions and bug reports to the above address, BBS 
or via electronic mail to

     Internet --> eagled@iia.org
or
     Compuserve --> 74561,606

