Flight Prediction results

The Flight Prediction Results Dialog in SpaceCAD 7 provides a detailed simulation of a rocket’s flight. It is accessed by clicking the “Predict Flight” button in the main window. This dialog offers a graphical and numerical representation of key flight metrics, enabling users to evaluate the rocket’s performance and make necessary design adjustments before an actual launch.

Key Sections and Features:

1. Graphical Flight Data (Center Panel)

• Displays a graph of the rocket’s flight path, plotting various metrics over time.
• Selectable Metrics:
  • Acceleration (m/s²)
  • Speed (Velocity, m/s)
  • Height (m)
  • Thrust (N)
  • Weight (g)
• Users can toggle these metrics on or off using checkboxes in the Data Selection section (right panel).
• The graph provides a visual representation of how each metric evolves during the flight, helping users understand rocket performance in different phases (e.g., lift-off, burnout, ejection, recovery).

2. Flight Events Log (Bottom Panel)

• Provides a step-by-step log of key flight events such as ignition, liftoff, and parachute deployment.
• Columns in the Flight Events Table:
  • t: Time (seconds).
  • h: Height (meters).
  • v: Velocity (m/s).
  • a: Acceleration (m/s²).
  • Weight: Weight of the rocket at the given event point.
• Users can track specific events like:
  • Ignition
  • Lift-off
  • Engine burnout
  • Parachute ejection
  • Recovery system deployment

3. Flight Summary (Left Panel)

• Displays an overview of the rocket’s performance, including:
  • Maximum Height: Total altitude achieved during the flight (e.g., 72.47 m).
  • Total Flight Time: Duration of the entire flight from launch to landing (e.g., 23.3 seconds).
  • Maximum Velocity: Highest speed reached (e.g., 37.99 m/s or Mach 0.11).
  • Maximum Acceleration: Peak acceleration during flight (e.g., 183.07 m/s²).
  • Landing Speed: Speed at which the rocket lands (should be low for safe recovery).
• Engine Configuration: Details the engine used in the simulation (e.g., Estes A8).
• Recovery System: Information about the parachute or other recovery devices used.
• Landing Condition: An indicator showing if the landing speed is safe for recovery (e.g., green checkmark indicating OK landing speed of 4 m/s).

4. Flight and Recovery Settings (Right Panel)

• Cd Value: Coefficient of drag, which affects the rocket’s aerodynamics. Users can adjust this value to simulate different flight conditions.
• Ejection Delay: Sets the delay between engine burnout and parachute ejection. This is crucial for optimizing recovery and avoiding damage to the rocket.
• Wind Settings:
  • Users can adjust wind speed and direction to simulate different launch conditions.
  • Wind data also provides information on rocket drift (e.g., how far the rocket drifts due to wind).

5. Tools Section (Right Panel)

• Launch Site Setup: Allows users to configure launch site parameters such as altitude and temperature, which can affect the rocket’s performance.
• Export Flight Data: Exports the flight data into external files for further analysis or record-keeping.

6. Toolbar (Top Panel)

• Print Options:
  • Datasheet: Prints a detailed report of the flight prediction results.
  • Partlist: Prints a list of all rocket elements.
  • Parachute Pattern: Prints a template for the parachute.
• Refresh: Recalculates the flight based on any changes made to settings (e.g., wind, recovery systems).
• Back to Rocket: Returns to the main design window, allowing users to modify the rocket based on the simulation results.

Example Workflow:

1. Simulating a Flight:

   • After clicking “Predict Flight,” the results dialog will display the rocket’s expected performance.
   • Users can analyze the graph to understand the rocket’s acceleration, speed, and height throughout the flight.

2. Adjusting Recovery Systems:

   • In the Flight and Recovery section, adjust the Ejection Delay to ensure the parachute deploys at the optimal time.
   • Re-run the simulation by clicking Refresh and observe the changes in the flight path.

3. Exporting Flight Data:

   • Once satisfied with the results, export the flight data using the Export Flight Data tool for documentation or further analysis.

Diagram Explanation:

A flowchart can be added to explain the flight simulation process:

• Design Rocket -> Predict Flight -> Analyze Results (Graph + Log) -> Make Adjustments -> Simulate Again -> Finalize Rocket Design.