Why was the nose of this rocket spinning? #rocketscience #nasa #spaceexploration

A shorter version of this more detailed answer on spin stabilized launchers:

[geodkyt]

I kept hearing that as "Exploder 1", which, given the US's early rocket program, made me giggle.

[cwjarvis]

"I'll try spinning. That's a good trick!" ~ Anakin Skywalker

[Darth-.-Vaper]

Fun fact: All attempted launches prior to explorer 1 were called exploder 1.

[nubnubbud]

if you've played KSP, you knew why they did this, because you learned to do this.

[Silavite]

One detail about this mechanism I find really interesting is that the angular velocity (spin rate) of the spinning stage actually wasn't a constant. To avoid resonance with the rest of the launch vehicle, the angular velocity actually changed in-flight as the first stage fired.

[spray_cheese]

Guidance system:
- too heavy👎
- works too well

Spiny boy:
- spins!! Wooo!!
- probably still heavy👎
- did I mention it spins?!!




I’m just goofing. These guys are scientists. I’m sure it was way better😂 I’m familiar with gyroscopes to be clear. Just part of the goofin

[AsbestosMuffins]

That wasn't a satellite, that was Von Braun's laundry!

[SparrowHawk]

"Now *this* is -podracing- rocket science!"

[Skigress]

I wind up compensating for unbalanced (both built that way and ‘suddenly modified en route’) rockets in KSP by spinning all the time… never knew that I came to the same conclusion as NASA…

[RCAvhstape]

Also interesting is that the Explorer 1 satellite itself was spin stabilized about the long axis, but because of energy dissipation through the wiggly antennae it quickly transitioned to spinning end over end. An early lesson in spinning body dynamics.

[A.Martin]

The spinning is for a similar reason you spin a bullet for increased precision. (Rifles over smooth bore)

[christopherrasmussen]

I remember the old rocket garden at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Shows my age. I had duty at the little Navy base there. I had a pass and car. At the time the civilian tours had stopped running and I had the place to myself. I have been a lifelong space nerd. The rocket from the V2 to Gemini I believe. They had been left to the elements and I remember being concerned we loose them. I believe they have been restored since this time (mid 90s)

[QuantumHistorian]

I'm not sure I've ever heard the gyroscopic effect referred to as a cheap hack before. That thing is the deepest magic of classical physics.

[jonathanlunger]

Thats a brilliant design, we should all be so lucky as to design something as smart as exploder 1

[theraptorsnest]

LMBO, Scott, usually I don't have any issues understanding your accent but in this video I had to chuckle. Every time you meant to say "Explorer One", it kept coming out as "Exploder One" LOL. Gotta love it! Keep the vids coming Scott!

[davidharrison]

I like how Scott put a good SPIN as to WHY NASA did this!

[mickaleneduczech]

Minor point, Explorer 1 was the US first successful satellite. Our first satellite was Vanguard, but, yeah, didn't quite make it to orbit. Didn't make it 10' off the launchpad, actually.

[ssgtmole]

I'm certain the cosmonauts and astronauts were happy that the engineers figured out stage stabilization without having to do this for crewed capsules. 🤣

[keatomic]

Ahhhh. Gyroscopic stability. Well played grandpa.

[gabrielgolding]

Is that a Phantom Menace reference I heard???