An - 70 - New Step in the Development of

Современные Летательные

Аппараты

(Modern Aircraft)

Методические указания по английскому языку.

 

Самара 2007

 

Составитель: М.Н. Пигарёва, О.Б. Салманова.

ББК III 143.24-93

 

«Современные Летательные Аппараты»

Методические указания по английскому языку.

Самарский Государственный Аэрокосмический Университет.

Самара,2007 г.

 

Составлены в соответствии с требованиями программы по английскому языку а также в рамках программы «English for Specific Purposes».Содержат тексты для чтения, пересказа, реферирования и аннотирования, лексико-грамматические упражнения, тестовые задания. Использована оригинальная литература по авиации и космонавтике.

Методические указания разработаны на кафедре иностранных языков и предназначены для студентов 2 курса факультета самолетостроения.

  Печатаются по решению редакционно-издательского совета Самарского государственного университета имени академика С. П. Королева.

 

Рецензент С.М. Ермишина

UNIT 1

An - 70 - New Step in the Development of

Transport Aviation.

Preparing to read.

Here is the title of the text “An-70 New Step in the Development of Transport Aviation”. Try to predict how the text begins. The two first sentences will be displayed on the blackboard.

Write down three important facts related to the topic 'An -70-New Step in the Development of Transport Aviation'. Share the information and discuss it.

3. Match the keywords with their translations............

...................................                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1) to be intended for                      a)географическая  широта                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

2) long-haul                                    b) короткий пробег                            

3) short take-off run                      c) тельфер                  

4) latitude                                      d) дальнемагистральный

5) multiplexed data                       e) лебедка

exchange channel                      f) высаживать десант

6) telpher                                      g) уплотнённый канал

7) winch                                          обмена данными

 8) to airdrop the                           h) соосные вентиляторы 

paratroops                               i) предназначаться                                          

9) coaxial fans                               j) хитроумное приспособление

10) contraption                              k) годность к полёту

11) container handling                  l) погрузка и разгрузка контейнеров               

12) airworthiness                            

Reading   

Read the text and check if your answers in ex. 2 p.1 are correct.

2. Read the text and complete the table below.   

                                                     

	Data on aircraft An-70	Advantages (in comparison with other types of aircraft)
Types of engines
Cargo capacity
Range
Speed
Runways
Avionics
Control systems

An - 70 - New Step in the Development of

Transport Aviation

A. An - 70is a long - haul short take - off military transport plane intended for airlifting military cargo of total mass of up to47t.

B.  The plane can airlift 20 - 35t of cargo on3800 - 7400kmdistance at 750kmph cruising speed, airdrop the paratroops and hardware, including single pieces weighing up to 20t, from either high or low altitude, bring in 300 troops with their small arms, evacuate 206 sick and wounded.

C. Depending on the operational mode and cargo mass, An –70 can take off from the average - strength concrete runways 1800m long, or the loosely - bound ground airstrips 600 - 900m long. In the latter case it carries 20-35t of cargo on 1450 - 3000km distance.

D.  FourD - 27 engines with coaxial fans ensure high cruising speed at 20 - 30% lower fuel consumption, comparing with other modern turbojets.

E. The integrated digital avionics provide for steady operation of the plane by day or night, at every latitude in any weather, flights over the blank terrain, air-defence penetration, formation flights, take-offs from and landings on the unprepared ground airstrips. The use of multiplexed data exchange channels makes for an easy adaptation of avionics to any mission profile.

F. In-built load - carrying contraptions enable the plane to load and unload the cargo, as well as airdrop it. They include four electric telphers of total carrying capacity of 12t, two electric winches having the pull of 1.5 t each. On customers demand the plane can be equipped with the second easily demountable deck or roll-ways for container-handling.

G. On - board control & diagnostic systems allow An -70 to operate autonomously without any special ground infrastructure. All maintenance is done when the conditions so require.

H. An – 70’s high technical and operational potential makes it possible to built upon its base a whole range of models, both military and civil: early warning aircraft, flying command post, patrol aircraft, refuel aircraft and many various An-70T commercial transports.

I. In 1998 the International Consortium of Medium Transport Aircraft has been set up which founders, beside Antonov Aeronautical Scientific Technical Complex, include the Russian and Ukrainian aviation factories, scientific Consortium conducts joint R & D, production, export. Its prime objective is the long- term pooling of the financial, industrial and human resources for the successful certification, production, sale, and leasing and after-sale support of An-70. Consortium is the sole legal entity having the right to built An-70 and alter its design. At present An - 70 is undergoing flight and certification tests for its compliance with the Air force’s requirements and AP-25 (FAR-25, JAR-25) airworthiness criteria.

Comprehension Check

Answer the questions below.

 

1) What is An-70 intended for?

2) How many people can it evacuate?

3) What runways can the aircraft take off?

4) What ensures high cruising speed?

5) What provides for steady operation of the plane by day or night, at every latitude,  in any weather?

6) What enables the plane to load and unload the cargo?

7) What systems allow An-70 to operate autonomously without any special ground infrastructure?

 

3. Define the main idea of paragraphs E and F. Find the supporting details that help to develop the main idea.

4. Explain why:

 a) An-70 can take of and land on the unprepared ground airstrips.

 b) The avionics can be easily adapted to any mission profile.

c) An-70 has a lower (20-30%) fuel consumption comparing with other modern turbojets.

d) It is possible to build upon An-70’s base a whole range of models, both military and civil.

e) An-70 can operate autonomously without any special ground infrastructure.

Vocabulary Focus

1. Fill in the gaps with the words & expressions from the box.

consortium                                    multiplexed                           sick           special ground infrastructure                    ground airstrips                    mission profile                            concrete runways          wounded                     channels                          hardware.

  1) An-70 can airdrop the paratroops and         ; it can evacuate

206          and        .

2) An-70 can take off from the average-strength           1800 long, or the loosely-bound          600-900m long.

3) The use of          data exchange         makes for an easy adoption of the avionics to any         .

4) On-board control and diagnostic systems allow An-70 to operate autonomously without any            .

5)           is the sole legal entity the right to built An-70 and alter its design.

 

UNIT 2

                                        American Eagles

Preparing to Read

American Eagles

A. The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat.

B. The Eagle ’ s air superiority is achieved through a mixture of unprecedented maneuverability and acceleration, range, weapons, and avionics. The F-15 has electronics systems and weaponry to detect, acquire, track and attack enemy aircraft while operating in friendly or enemy-controlled airspace.

C. The weapons and flight control systems are designed so one person can safely and effectively perform air-to-air combat. The F-15 superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved through high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. Low wing-loading (the ratio of aircraft weight to its wing area) is vital factor in maneuverability and, combined with the high thrust-to-weight ratio, enables the aircraft to turn tightly without losing airspeed.

D. A multimission avionics system sets the F-15 apart from other fighter aircraft. It includes a head-up display, advanced radar, inertial navigation system, flight instruments, ultrahigh frequency communications, tactical navigation system and instrument landing system. It also has an internally mounted, tactical electronic-warfare system, identification “friend or foe” system, electronic countermeasures set and a central digital computer.

The head-up display projects on the windscreen all essential flight information gathered by the integrated avionics system. This display, visible in any flight condition, provides the pilot information necessary to track and destroy an enemy aircraft without having to look down at cockpit instruments.

  E. The F-15`s versatile pulse-Doppler radar system can look up at highflying targets and down at low flying targets without being confused by ground clutter. It can detect and track aircraft and small high-speed targets at distances beyond visual range down to close range, and at altitudes down to treetop level. The radar feeds target information into the central computer for effective weapons delivery. For close-dogfights, the radar automatically acquires enemy aircraft, and this information is projected on the head-up display. The F-15`electronic warfare system provides both threat warning and automatic countermeasures against selected threats.

F. A variety of air-to-air weaponry can be carried by the F-15. An automated weapon system enables the pilot to perform aerial combat safely and effectively, using the head-up display and the avionics and weapons control stick. When the pilot changes from one weapon system to another, visual guidance for the required weapon automatically appears on the head-up display.

G. The Eagle can be armed with combinations of four different air-to-air weapons: Aim-7F/M Sparrow missiles or AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles on its lower fuselage corners, AIM-9L/M Sidewinder or AIM-120 missiles on two pylons under the wings, and an internal 20mm Gatling gun in the right wing root. Low-drag conformal fuel tanks were especially developed for the F-15C and D models. Conformal fuel tanks can be attached to the sides of the engine air intake trunks under each wing and are designed to the same load factors and airspeed limits as the basic aircraft. Each conformal fuel tank contains about 114 cubic feet of usable space. These tanks reduce the need for in-flight refueling on global missions and increase time in the combat area. All external stations for munitions remain available with the tanks in use. AIM -7 F/M Sparrow missiles, moreover, can be attached to the corners of the conformal fuel tanks.

H. The F-15E is a two-seat, dual-role, totally integrated fighter for all- weather, air-to-air and deep interdiction missions. The rear cockpit is upgraded to include four multi-purpose CRT displays for aircraft systems and weapons management. The digital, triple-redundant flight control system permits coupled automatic terrain following, enhanced by a ring-laser gyro inertial navigation system. For low altitude high-speed penetration and precision attack on tactical targets at night or in adverse weather, the F-15E carries a high-resolution APG-70 radar and low attitude navigation and targeting infrared for night pods.

 

Reading

 

1. Read the text and write out the words and word combinations you don`t know, try to guess their meaning from the context. Compare your notes with your partners.

to penetrate                                          identification friend or foe

conformal fuel tank                            electronic warfare system

threat warning system                         engine throttle

a head-up display                                   deep interdiction mission

ground clutter                                     redundant

air intake trunk                                        control stick                            

dogfight                                                   to acquire the aircraft

 

Comprehension Check

Vocabulary Focus

Focus on Writing

Make up your own sentences using the words and word combinations of exercise 1 p. 17                                                                                                                           

Speaking

You are going to introduce your aircraft at Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom. Describe the performances of American Eagles and persuade the potential customers to purchase the aircraft from your company. Split into groups. Everyone should take part in presentation

(remember to use the table ex.2 p.12).

 

Speak about: 1- radar systems of the aircraft

                     2- fuel system

                     3- weapons

                     4- the head-up display

                     5- flight performances

 

UNIT 3

              Sukhoi S-37 ``Berkut`` 5^th Generation Russian Fighter

Preparing to read

Comprehension Check

Vocabulary Focus

1. Find the words in the text that mean:

- push

- improved

- decreased

- advanced

- outside

- inside

- ban

- to be alike

- obvious

2. Explain the meaning of the following words:

- triplane

- interceptor

- maneuverability

- canards

- armament

- afterburning

3. a) Find the equivalents in the text:

  - хвостовая штанга

  - отклонение вектора тяги

  - противоштопорный парашют

  - переднее горизонтальное оперение

  - оружие

  - воздухозаборник

  - дожигание топлива

  - рабочий потолок

     b) Make up 4-5 sentences with these words.

4. Fill in the gaps.

1) The difference in size of the stringers can be also explained by …….

2) One of the most interesting and confusing technical issue about the new Russian fighter is its …….

3) The basic dimensions and weight of the S-37 “Berkut’ are similar to those of ……..

4) The S-37 fighter has large …… mounted on the intake side, close to the leading edge of the …...

5) Its primary drawbacks are …… lift and handling problems at ….. speeds.

Engines; reduced; SU-37; radar; supersonic; canards; forward-swept wing.

 

Focus on writing

Complete the sentences.

1) New in Sukhoi fighters forward-swept wing design integrated into the ……..

2) It is reasonable to conclude that the longer “stringer” contains a ……..

3) The S-37 fighter is designed to use the ……….

4) During the first test flights it was used the more powerful D-30F6 engines from ……, Russia’s most advanced high-speed ….. …...

5) The original, 1991 S-37 project was a smaller aircraft with a ….. wing design and a ….. AI-41F engine.

6) This apparently wasn’t the case with the 1997 S-37 “Berkut”: the new aircraft is significantly larger, it is equipped with two engines and employs a …. …. …. design.

7) The basic dimensions and weight of the S-37 “Berkut” are similar to those of ……..

8) The main advantage of the forward-swept wing design is the …. ….. ….. …...

9) The drawbacks are the …. ….. and ….. ….. at supersonic speeds.

10) It previously suggested that the nose section of the S-37 was similar to the one of …. family.

 

2. Make up meaningful sentences from the following words:

1. is/ engines/ fighter/ to use/ the thrust-vectoring/ the S-37/ designed

2. intake/ section/ large/ are located/ two/ fuselage/ auxiliary/ centre/doors/ on the

3. canards/ side/ the Su-37/ intake/ has/ on the/ large/ mounted

4. wave/ the airframe/ with/ absorbent/ is/ radio/ with

5. the S-37 fighterussia`s/ it/ that/ to become/ fighter/ clear/ fifth/ now/ is/ is intended/ generation

 

Speaking

UNIT 4

Vertical Horizons

Preparing to read

 

Tilting forward

N. The RVR rivals the speed of a tiltrotor, widely regarded as the next step in rotorcraft evolution. The tiltrotor combines the hover capability of a helicopter with the cruise efficiency of a turboprop. The first example flew in 1954, and the first conversion from helicopter to aeroplane mode was accomplished in 1958, but the first production tiltrotor has yet to enter service.

O. Today’s tiltrotors, the Bell Boeing V-22 military transport and Bell/Augusta BA609, are designed to cruise at 275kt, while NASA’s 2020 timeframe technology goals call for a 350-400kt cruise to make the tiltrotor competitive with short-haul jets.

P. The tiltrotor has speed and range advantages, but the configuration presents challenges. Weight is one: an airliner can carry 120% of its empty weight and a helicopter 80%, but today’s tiltrotors can lift only 40%. Hover capability is reduced by the compromise proprotor design – thrust in the hover is 10 times that needed in the cruise – and by the download on the airframe, which can equal 10% of aircraft weight.

Q. Led by Augusta Westland, Europe is working on a second-generation tiltrotor to address some of these issues. Key innovations in the Erica – a 350kt-cruise, 1,100km-range, 20-passenger tiltrotor – are the reduced-diameter rotors and tiltable wing. Smaller proportions improve cruise performance, while a tilting wing offsets the loss in hover efficiency by reducing download to around 1% of aircraft weight. The smaller rotors allow for take-off and landing in aeroplane mode, enhancing safety, while tilting the wing independently of the nacelles widens the conversion corridors.

Future tiltrotors

R. Bell and Boeing independently are looking at future tiltrotors and improvements to the current generation. The latter include a variable-geometry rotor with slotted blade providing higher lift in the hover without incurring a power penalty in forward flight. Others address the download issue, and include movable overwing vanes to deflect the rotor downwash and active synthetic jets to delay flow separation over the wing.

S. Bell is studying a larger quad tiltrotor (QTR) with four proprotors. The military version has a C-130-size fuselage, 20t payload and uses V-22-size dynamics. A 120-passenger civil QTR would cruise at 340kt. Boeing’s advanced tiltrotor concept – designed to meet the same NASA runway-independent aircraft needs as Bell’s civil QTR and Sikorsky’s RVR – is a canard configuration with two large-diameter, five-blade proprotors at the tips of a W-planform wing designed to minimize download.

T. Faster rotorcraft have yet to be flight tested even experimentally, but Boeing hopes to fly the unmanned X-50 canard rotor/wing (CRW) demonstrator this year. Previous stoppable rotor/wing rotor/wing designs had problems with conversion between rotor- and wing-borne flights, but CRW is different. Earlier designs used the rotor/wing to provide lift in all modes, whereas the CRW unloads the rotor/wing during conversion, with lift being provided by the foreplane and tailplane.

U. Boeing believes this will ease the transition between the helicopter mode, where the rotor/wing acts as a two-blade reaction-drive rotor, and aeroplane mode, where the rotor/wing is locked perpendicular to the fuselage. The concept simplifies the powerplant design, with warm turbofan exhaust gases ducted to nozzles in the rotor tips for vertical flight, and then redirected rearwards to provide jet propulsion for forward flight.

V. Although it promises to be the first concept to combine the best attributes of rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, the canard rotor/wing will have to fly successfully to be taken seriously. Until it does, the gap between helicopters and jets will remain.

Speaking

Example:

S1: Compared with equivalent fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters are still much cheaper to buy and to operate.

S2: False. Compared with equivalent fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters are still more expensive to buy and costly to operate.

  

2. You are a designer of a helicopter and are going to make a report at the conference. Speak on the following topics:

- advantages of helicopters

- disadvantages of helicopters;

- helicopter improvement;

- future tiltrotors

- a problem of noise reduction

 3. Make a summary of the text “Vertical Horizons”.

UNIT 5

Spacecraft Propulsion

 

Preparing to Read

Spacecraft Propulsion

A. Spacecraft propulsion is used to change the velocity of spacecraft and artificial satellites, or in short, to provide delta-v. There are many different methods. Each method has drawbacks and advantages, and spacecraft propulsion is an active area of research. Most spacecraft today are propelled by heating the reaction mass and allowing it to flow out the back of the vehicle. This sort of engine is called a rocket engine.

B.  All current spacecraft use chemical rocket engines (bipropellant or solid-fuel) for launch, though some have used air-breathing engines on their first stage. Most satellites have simple reliable chemical engines (often monopropellant rockets) or resistojet rockets to keep their station. Newer geo-orbiting spacecraft are starting to use electric propulsion for stationkeeping. Interplanetary vehicles mostly use chemical rockets as well, although a few have experimentally used ion thrusters with some success (a form of electric propulsion).

C.  Artificial satellites must be launched into orbit, and once there they must accelerate to circle  their orbit. Once in the desired orbit, they often need some form of attitude control so that they are correctly pointed with respect to the Earth, the Sun, and possibly some astronomical object of interest. They are also subjected to drag from the thin atmosphere, so that to stay in orbit for a long period of time some form of propulsion is occasionally necessary to make small corrections. Many satellites need to be moved from one orbit to another from time to time, and this also requires propulsion. When a satellite has exhausted its ability to adjust its orbit, its useful life is over.

D. Spacecraft designed to travel further also need propulsion methods. They need to be launched out of the Earth's atmosphere just as do satellites. Once there, they need to leave orbit and move around.

E. For interplanetary travel, a spacecraft must use its engines to leave Earth orbit. Once it has done so, it must somehow make its way to its destination. Current interplanetary spacecraft do this with a series of short-term orbital adjustments. In between these adjustments, the spacecraft simply falls freely along its orbit. The simplest fuel-efficient means to move from one circular orbit to another is with a Hohmann transfer orbit: the spacecraft begins in a circular orbit around the Sun. A short period of thrust in the direction of motion accelerates or decelerates the spacecraft into an elliptical orbit around the Sun which is tangential to its previous orbit and also to the orbit of its destination. The spacecraft falls freely along this elliptical orbit until it reaches its destination, where another short period of thrust accelerates or decelerates it to match the orbit of its destination. Special methods such as aerobraking are sometimes used for this final orbital adjustment.

F. Some spacecraft propulsion methods such as solar sails provide very low but inexhaustible thrust; an interplanetary vehicle using one of these methods would follow a rather different trajectory, either constantly thrusting against its direction of motion in order to decrease its distance from the Sun or constantly thrusting along its direction of motion to increase its distance from the Sun.

G.  Spacecraft for interstellar travel also need propulsion methods. No such spacecraft has yet been built, but many designs have been discussed. Since interstellar distances are very great, a tremendous velocity is needed to get a spacecraft to its destination in a reasonable amount of time. Acquiring such a velocity on launch and getting rid of it on arrival will be a formidable challenge for spacecraft designers.

Comprehension Check

Choose the right answer.

1. To reach the desired orbit the spacecraft propulsion must provide ___.

a) final orbital adjustment b) delta-v c) short-term thrusting

2. Current spacecraft use ____ on their first stage.

a) ion thrusters b) air-breathing engines c) chemical rocket engines

3. Special methods such as ____ are sometimes used for final orbital adjustment.

a) accelerating b) decelerating c) aerobraking

4. Spacecraft for interstellar travel need ____.

a) low inexhaustible thrust b) short-term thrusting c) tremendous velocity

5. Most satellites have simple reliable chemical rockets or ____ to keep their station.

a) aerobraking b) air-breathing engines  c) resistojet rockets

Focus on Writing

Speaking

Divide into groups. Each team is to investigate the most suitable engine for long interstellar travel. Report the main characteristics of chosen engine, speak about its advantages and drawbacks and persuade your colleagues to choose it. You might need the following phrases:

During the past decade there has been increasing research into ….

… is an important and common problem.

The object of this study …

Accordingly, we suggest …

There is still lack of knowledge of …

UNIT 6

Space Shuttle Programme

Preparing to Read

 

1. a) Predict which of these topics might be mentioned in the text about Space Shuttle Programme.

a reliability

b artificial satellite

c animal

d robot

e payload

f computer

g astrology

h airframe

i communication

b) Compare your list with your partner and explain the reasons why you chose these topics.

 

Reading

Space Shuttle Programme

A.  A spacecraft is a vehicle that travels through space. Spacecraft include robotic or unmanned space probes as well as manned vehicles. The term is sometimes also used to describe artificial satellites, which have similar design criteria. The term spaceship is generally applied only to spacecraft capable of transporting people.

B. A spacesuit has at times been called a miniature spacecraft or spaceship, emphasizing its purpose of keeping its wearer alive while traveling in the vacuum of outer space.

C.  NASA's Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States' manned launch vehicle. It is partly reusable, and is the world's first spacecraft to be designed with this capacity. It is used to carry large payload to various orbits, for crew rotation of the International Space Station (ISS), and to carry out servicing missions. Each shuttle was designed for a projected lifespan of 100 launches.

D. The program started in the late 1960s and has totally dominated NASA's manned operations since the mid 1970s. Use of the Space Shuttle will be focused on completing the assembly of the International Space Station in 2010, and it will then be retired.

E. The Space Shuttle consists of four main components:

·  the reusable Orbiter Vehicle (OV), with a large payload bay and three main engines (used while the external fuel tank is attached) and an orbital maneuvering system with two smaller engines (used after the external tank has been disposed of)

· a large expendable external fuel tank (ET) containing liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for the three main engines of the orbiter; it is jettisoned 8.5 minutes after launch at an altitude of 109 kilometers and breaks up in the atmosphere upon reentry; the pieces fall in the ocean and are not recovered 

· a pair of reusable solid-fuel rocket boosters (SRB); the propellant consists mainly of ammonium perchlorate (oxidizer, 70 % by weight) and aluminum (fuel, 16 %); they are separated two minutes after launch at a height of 66 km and are recovered after landing in the ocean, their fall slowed by parachutes.

F. The Shuttle has a large payload bay taking up much of its length. The payload bay doors have heat radiators mounted on their inner surfaces, and so are kept open while the Shuttle is in orbit for thermal control. Thermal control is also maintained by adjusting the orientation of the Shuttle relative to Earth and Sun. Inside the payload bay is the Remote Manipulator System, a robot arm used to retrieve and deploy payloads. Since the arm is a crucial part of the Thermal Protection Inspection procedures now required for shuttle flights, it will likely be included on all future flights.

G. The Space Shuttle system has had numerous improvements over the years. The Orbiter has changed its thermal protection system several times in order to save weight and ease workload. The original silica-based ceramic tiles need to be inspected for damage after every flight, and they also soak up water and thus need to be protected from the rain. Later many of the tiles on the cooler portions of the Shuttle were replaced by large blankets of insulating felt-like material, which means huge areas no longer have to be inspected as much.

H. Internally the Shuttle remains largely similar to the original design, with the exception that the avionics continues to be improved. The original systems were "hardened" IBM 360 computers connected to analog displays in the cockpit. The computers use the HAL/S programming language. In addition to the "glass cockpit" several improvements have been made for safety reasons after the Challenger explosion, including a crew escape system for use in situation that require the Orbiter to ditch. With the coming of the Space Station, the Orbiter's internal airlocks are being replaced with external docking systems to allow for a greater amount of cargo to be stored on the shuttle mid-deck during Station resupply missions.

I. For STS-1 and STS-2 the external tank was not painted. This saved considerable weight, and thereby increases the payload the orbiter can carry into orbit. Additional weight was saved by removing some of the internal "stringers" in the hydrogen tank which proved to be unneeded in flight. The resulting "light weight external tank" has been used on the vast majority of shuttle missions. STS-91 saw the first flight of the "super light weight external tank". This version of the tank is made of the Aluminum-Lithium alloy. It weighs 7,500 lb (3.4 t) less than the last run of light-weight tanks. As the Shuttle cannot fly unmanned, each of these improvements has been "tested" on operational flights. And, of course, the SRBs have undergone improvements as well. Notable is the adding of a third O-ring seal to the joints between the segments, which occurred after the Challenger accident.

Comprehension Check

1. Complete the scheme according to the content of the text:

Vocabulary Focus

Verb

Nouns

Adjective

Person Thing apply applicant     operate   operation   create     creative transport   transportation   adjust     adjusting protect protector   protective

Focus on Writing

Speaking

1. Divide into groups. Your design team is going to introduce some new improvements in Space Shuttle design. Speak about the advantages of your improvements. You might need some speech patterns:

I have a great pleasure to …

The object of this presentation is to show…

Let me give my explanation of …

Let me now turn to …

In conclusion, let me say …

Any questions or comments?

I’d like to thank you all for …

UNIT 7

Shuttle Buran

Preparing to Read

1. a) Brainstorm all possible terms related to the topic.

b) Compare your list with your partner and explain the reasons why you chose these terms.

c) Work in pairs and discuss whether it is important for the people to develop reusable space vehicles.

Reading 1

Shuttle Buran

A. The Soviet reusable spacecraft program Buran began in 1976 at TsAGI as a response to the United States Space Shuttle program. Soviet politicians were convinced that the Space Shuttle could be used for military purposes, hence posing a potential threat to the balance of power during the Cold War. The project was the largest and the most expensive in the history of Soviet space exploration.

B. Because Buran's debut followed Space Shuttle Columbia's and there were visual similarities between the two shuttle systems, during the Cold War many speculated that espionage played a role in the development of the Soviet shuttle. However, it is now known that while externally it was an aerodynamic copy of the Space Shuttle, internally it was all engineered and developed domestically.

1 Key differences with the NASA Space Shuttle 2 Development 3 First flight 4 Aftermath 5 See also 5.1 Russian space 5.2 Space 6 External links

C. The first and only orbital launch of the unmanned shuttle Buran was on 15 November 1988. It was lifted into orbit by the specially designed Energiya booster rocket. The life support system was not installed and no software was installed on the CRT displays. The shuttle orbited the Earth twice before returning, performing an impressive automated landing on the shuttle runway at Baikonur Cosmodrome. This is a capability that the U.S. shuttle system does not have.

D. The Buran orbiter is the first reusable manned space vehicle in our country. The Buran orbiter is the space airplane which may descent from an orbit and land to an airdrome. The Buran is our first vehicle capable not only to put pay-loads into Space, but also to provide their orbit maintenance and repair as well as return to the Earth.

E. The Buran orbiter is able to put up to 30 tons into Space and to return up to 20 tons of payload to the Earth. The availability of a cargo compartment of impressive sizes on the vehicle permits to transport orbital station modules or large structures up to 17 m long and 4,5 m in diameter and not only 2-4 crew members but up to 6 passengers can be accommodated in a crew cabin.      

 

F. Expendable space vehicles perform a ballistic or sliding descent in the atmosphere and parachute landing. The necessity to provide a space vehicle return from the Space and to bring it to the airdrome forced the designers to decide many complex problems. The gliding descent from the orbit through dense layers of atmosphere has stipulated the necessity to use a principally new reusable thermal protection system designed to sustain 100 flights.

 

G. For the Buran orbiter three kinds of thermal protection have been developed:

 

- "carbon-carbonic" material with maximum operating temperature up to 1650 degrees C for the components with the highest thermal load -the fuselage nose and wing leading edge;

- ceramic tiles for parts heating up to 1250 degrees C;

- flexible material for surface parts with the temperature not higher than 379 degrees C.

All of them surpassed by strength the materials used in the USA Space Shuttle construction.

H. Each of almost forty thousand tiles of ceramic thermal protection had its original geometry differing from the others by plane form, side surfaces view and inside and outside surfaces curvature, availability of cuts and notches. The measurements of a real frame surface geometry under each tile in more than 100 points were made to ensure the tiles fitting closely. To execute all this manually was impossible. The special software was developed and as a result manufacturing and installation of tiles were carried out completely on paperless technology without drawings, using the data bank. The bank data is based on the interface between a design office and plants. The data bank information describes the geometry, technology parameters and materials. More than one billion manufacturing control and testing programmes are automatically generated on the plant.

I.

The Buran descending from a space orbit passes all possible for an airplane flight performances in the atmosphere starting with large hypersonic (M-25) up to landing (M=0,2) speeds. In this connection the aerodynamic scheme without a horizontal tail with a double swept wing, with elevons, rudder-aerodynamic brake and balance flap as control surfaces has been chosen. This assembly was worked up during wind tunnel tests and evaluated in the BOR-5 suborbital flying model flights.                               

J.

For working up the most responsible flight phase - landing approach and landing - the Buran flying prototype was constructed. In general it distinguished from the orbital vehicle by installation of four turbojet engines and accordingly by capability of an independent takeoff from the airfield. 24 flights were executed on the prototype, in 15 of them completely automatic mode landing was made. There was no pilot onboard the orbiter but it having made two turns around the Earth completely automatically controlled touched the runway with the accuracy which experienced pilots could envy. It was the first in the world automatic landing of a spaceplane.

K. The main differences between the space aeroplane Buran and the Space Suttle-orbiter are:

- the automatic landing of Buran from orbit onto airdrome;

- the absence of the main rocket engine on the orbital space aeroplane. The main engine was placed onto a central block of a carrier-rocket Energia which is able to launch into an orbit 120 tonns of payload against 30 tonns for the Space Shuttle;

- the high lift/drag ratio of the space aeroplane Buran is 6.5 against 5.5 for the Space Shuttle;

- the space aeroplane Buran returned 20 tonns of payloads against 15 tonns for the Space Shuttle orbiter from an orbit to an aerodrome;

- the cutting lay-out pattern of thermoprotection tiles of Buran is optimal and longitudinal slits of tile belts are orthogonal to the flow line. Sharp angles of tiles are absent. The tile belts of the Buran fuselage and fin have an optimal position.

L. The Buran orbiter flight was a necessary step in the space engineering progress but it has left its trace not only in this field. Born in the course of work on the Buran project new materials, technologies, computer designing methods and equipment components find an application in far, at first sight, from space branches of economy.

 

Comprehension Check

Vocabulary Focus

Focus on Writing

1. Match the beginning and the end of the sentences:

1. The shuttle Buran was lifted …             a) to ensure the tiles fitting closely.  

2. Expendable space vehicles perform…  b) ballistic or sliding descent in the

                                                                     atmosphere.

3. The measurements of a real frame        c) onto a central block of carrier-

surface geometry were made…..              rocket Energia.

4. The main engine was placed….            d) into orbit by specially designed

                                                                      Energia booster rocket.

Kliper

A. For many years, Russian engineers pondered over possible configurations of a new spacecraft, which could replace the venerable but small Soyuz.  

B. The Kliper would be launched on the top of Onega booster - a heavily modified Soyuz rocket - with no payload fairing but with the emergency escape rocket attached to the nose section of the reentry capsule. The emergency escape system, resembling that of the Soyuz spacecraft, would be capable of pulling the crew capsule away from the launch vehicle at every stage of the launch and orbit insertion.

C. While in orbit, the Kliper is capable of delivering crew and cargo to the space station or carrying two pilots and four passengers, including tourists, on an autonomous flight. A special detachable habitation module partially borrowed from the Soyuz spacecraft would be mounted behind the reentry capsule, rather then in front of it, as in the Soyuz spacecraft. The habitation module contains docking system, toilet and other life-support systems.  In turn, the habitation module, will be surrounded by a service module, containing orbital maneuvering and attitude-control systems and power-supply systems with solar panels. The habitation module/service module combination would be jettisoned from the reentry capsule after the braking maneuver to return to Earth, as it now done onboard the Soyuz spacecraft.

D. The aerodynamic body of the Kliper arranging two vertical and one horizontal movable rudders on its tail would allow the vehicle to glide as far as 500 kilometers left and right from the ground track of its orbit, with g -loads not exceeding 2 and the skin temperature in the most critical area of the nose not exceeding 3,000K.

E. The spacecraft will feature combination of thermal protection systems borrowed from the Buran program and from the Soyuz spacecraft. Some sections of the thermal protection system, such as nose section would not be reusable.

F. The Kliper will land with the help of three main uncontrolled parachutes and several solid-propellant engines, which would be fired shortly before the touchdown. The engineers are still debating a choice between special landing legs and an inflatable cushioning device to soften the landing. The latter would probably enable the spacecraft to splashdown safely in the water.

G. There will be a winged version of the Kliper spacecraft. The new configuration would enable Kliper to increase range of its side maneuver from 500 to 2,000 kilometers and to terminate its flight at virtually any orbit with subsequent landing on a regular runway. However, an emergency escape during the launch accident would now require a controlled landing at the airport rather than a relatively simple descent under parachutes into a random location along the flight path.

Comprehension Check

1. Match the given titles with the corresponding paragraph. Watch out! There is an extra title.

1. Landing system.

2. New Idea.

3. Life support system.

4. Launch system.

5. Winged version.

6. Kliper structure.

7. Thermal protection system.

8. Aerodynamic features.

 

 

Vocabulary Focus

 

Focus on Writing

Speaking

1. Imagine that you have to prepare a report for the Scientific and Technical Conference of Students. The topic of your report is “ Reusable Spacecraft”. You may need to read the texts “Space Shuttle Program” “Shuttle Buran” and “Kliper” again. The following expressions might be helpful:

· In my opinion ….

· I really think that ….

· I am sure …

· For example …

· In comparison with …

· Similarly

UNIT 8

Preparing to Read

                   

1. Look at the picture and write down some facts that you know about the International Space Station. Compare them with your partner. Try to answer the following questions:

1. What purpose is the International Space Station intended for?

2. How is it constructed?

3. What difficulties are the designers of the International Space Station faced with?

Reading

Comprehension Check

Vocabulary focus

Speaking

Imagine that you have to prepare a report for the student scientific conference. You should outline some aspects and their advantages:

- ISS performances;

- international cooperation;

- modular design of the ISS.

UNIT 9

Preparing to Read

Comprehension check

1. Agree or disagree with these statements:

1. The size and mass of station sent to the Earth orbit are limited by gravity.

2. The problem of making of a high-size frame can be solved by means of cascade welding of superlight titanium alloy.

3. High-size frames could be done by using a reactionable matrix applied in space.

4. The manufacture of this airframe requires the extravehicular activity of an operator in free space.

5. The main advantage of this technology is the absence of restrictions on the frame size.

6. Closed ecological system can exist without cosmonauts on modern spaceships.

7. Vacuum, specific atmosphere of a planet, sharp temperature drops influence the polymer curing.

8. Future flights in far space must be supplied with self-regulating ecological system.

 

  2. Divide the text into logical parts. Think of the subtitle to each part. Highlight the topic words of each part.

 

3. Which of the following sentences summarize the main idea of the paragraph A most accurately?

1. Solving of the problem of long-time space man’s flight is impossible without new materials for space construction.

2. To improve the possibility of launch vehicle is the only way out to construct new space stations.

3. Long-time man’s space flight is possible only in closed ecological system.

4. Complex life-support system is needed to provide long-time man’s existence in space.

Vocabulary Focus

1. a) Match words in A with words B to form the word combinations.

                    A                                             B

        life-support                                    volume

           big                                              technology

        theoretical                                      system

         space                                            connection

         launch                                          calculations

        numerous                                        projects

        compound                                       station

           complicated                                    sealing

        hermetic                                         structure

         high-size                                       vehicle

         reactionable                                construction

          artificial                                      diversity

         mechanical                                    frame

         ecological                                      matrix

b) Make up 5-6 sentences using your word combinations. Compare them with your partner. Check each other.

Современные Летательные

Аппараты

(Modern Aircraft)

Методические указания по английскому языку.

 

Самара 2007

 

Составитель: М.Н. Пигарёва, О.Б. Салманова.

ББК III 143.24-93

 

«Современные Летательные Аппараты»

Методические указания по английскому языку.

Самарский Государственный Аэрокосмический Университет.

Самара,2007 г.

 

Составлены в соответствии с требованиями программы по английскому языку а также в рамках программы «English for Specific Purposes».Содержат тексты для чтения, пересказа, реферирования и аннотирования, лексико-грамматические упражнения, тестовые задания. Использована оригинальная литература по авиации и космонавтике.

Методические указания разработаны на кафедре иностранных языков и предназначены для студентов 2 курса факультета самолетостроения.

  Печатаются по решению редакционно-издательского совета Самарского государственного университета имени академика С. П. Королева.

 

Рецензент С.М. Ермишина

UNIT 1

An - 70 - New Step in the Development of

Transport Aviation.

Preparing to read.