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rocketry/PROJECT_OVERVIEW_DRAFT.md
2026-03-03 16:43:30 +00:00

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# RocketTools Project Overview
## Project Description
RocketTools is a web-based application designed to provide engineering calculators and tools for rocket propulsion. Built with React and Vite, it serves as an accessible platform for both students and professionals in aerospace engineering to perform complex propulsion calculations through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
## Main Objectives
### 1. Educational Excellence
Provide an accessible platform for learning rocket propulsion concepts through interactive calculations and visualizations, making complex aerospace engineering principles understandable to students and newcomers to the field.
### 2. Engineering Precision
Offer precise computational tools for rocket engineers to perform complex propulsion calculations with accuracy and reliability, supporting professional engineering work.
### 3. Intuitive User Experience
Create an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows users to easily manipulate variables and solve equations without requiring deep technical knowledge of the underlying implementation.
### 4. Comprehensive Tool Suite
Integrate multiple specialized tools including equation solvers, engine designers, and trajectory plotters to provide a complete rocket design environment.
## Project Scope
### Functional Scope
#### Core Features
1. **Equation Solver**
- Drag-and-drop interface for rocketry variables
- Automatic solving of unknowns using constraint propagation
- Support for scientific notation and unit conversions
- Export capabilities (ODT, JSON formats)
2. **Engine Designer**
- Configuration tools for combustion chambers, nozzles, and feed systems
- Live 3D visualization of engine models using React Three Fiber
- Interactive design parameters
3. **Knowledge Base**
- Reference materials for fuels and oxidizers
- Educational content for propulsion theory
4. **Planned Features**
- Trajectory Plotter for flight simulation
- Additional propulsion calculation tools
#### Technical Implementation
- **Frontend Framework**: React with Vite for fast development and hot module replacement
- **3D Visualization**: Integration with Three.js via React Three Fiber and Drei
- **UI Components**: Custom drag-and-drop functionality using DnD Kit
- **Routing**: React Router for navigation between tools
- **Styling**: TailwindCSS for responsive design
- **State Management**: Custom hooks for solver logic and state management
### Target Audience
- Aerospace engineering students at universities and colleges
- Professional rocket engineers in industry
- Hobbyist rocket enthusiasts with technical interests
- Educational institutions teaching propulsion and aerospace engineering courses
### Out of Scope
- Desktop application development (web-based only)
- Multi-user collaboration features
- Hardware integration or physical simulation
- Advanced aerodynamics beyond basic propulsion
## Success Criteria
- Positive feedback from target user groups during beta testing
- Accuracy of engineering calculations validated against established methods
- Responsive interface with load times under 2 seconds
- Complete documentation covering all tools and features
- Successful deployment with 99% uptime over a 30-day period
## Project Constraints
- Single developer project with limited resources
- Web-based delivery requiring modern browser support
- Focus on fundamental rocket propulsion calculations rather than advanced simulations
- Dependency on third-party libraries that may require updates