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ZOOM
Conceptual Design and Analysis of Rockets and Their Missions

Latest Available Version:  2307
First Window
Released in July, 2023

ZOOM is a windows-compatible computer program that determines the quasi-optimum trajectory and rocket configuration for a mission objective and constraints defined by the user. The program is very useful for conceptual design and analysis studies. ZOOM has been tested with Windows XP, 7, and 10 operating systems and works with keyboard/mouse and touch-screen interfaces.

ZOOM incorporates many of the algorithms and procedures developed and refined over decades beginning in the 1970's. The optimization engine uses the Simplex algorithm of Linear Programming in an innovative way that has proven robust and effective in solving a wide variety of rocket trajectory optimization problems. These include long-range, low-altitude intercepts of re-entry vehicles, deliveries of large payloads from the earth's surface into various earth orbits including geostationary orbits, deliveries of payloads from an airborne platform to low earth orbit, rendezvous with orbiting satellites in sun-synchronous and other earth orbits, re-entry of the Space Shuttle, descent from lunar orbit to the moon's surface, and a variety of other problems.


Falcon F9R Mission

Two of the sample missions provided with the program simulate the delivery of payload by Space-X's Falcon F9R rocket to low earth orbit and the return of the rocket's first stage to the launch site. The payload delivery mission is of mission type "Inject Into Conic", and the first-stage return is of mission type "Achieve Specified State"


Falcon Heavy to Low Earth Orbit

Another sample mission provided with the program is an approximation of payload delivery to low earth orbit by Space-X's Falcon Heavy rocket. Like the other sample missions, this one can be modified to update the parameter values used in the approximation.


ZOOM's Capabilities

ZOOM is probably unsurpassed in the wide variety of in-flight and end-point constraints that can be imposed on the trajectory solution. These include constraints on initial mass, aerodynamic normal acceleration, axial acceleration, dynamic pressure, aerodynamic heating rate, propellant loading, and rocket-motor thrust. The intercept of a target spacecraft or re-entry vehicle can be an impact or rendezvous. A wide selection of mission objectives is available. These include minimizing the rocket's initial mass, maximizing payload, minimizing flight time, minimizing aerodynamic heating, maximizing altitude, maximizing ground range, and maximizing or minimizing final speed.


Scope of the Program Code

The ZOOM program is written in the FORTRAN 95 language. The source code is contained in 67 text files (with .f95 file extension) and consists of the main program, 198 subroutines, 356 function routines, and 7 modules. These program units contain a total of 36548 FORTRAN code statements and 9446 comments. 


Development Tools

The FORTRAN compiler (FTN95) and the "Plato" integrated development environment (IDE) used in the development of ZOOM were developed by Salford Software Limited, a company that was owned by the University of Salford, near Manchester, England.  In August 2004 Salford Software relinquished control of FTN95 to Silverfrost Limited. Silverfrost FTN95 is often referred to as Salford FTN95 because of its University of Salford pedigree. Silverfrost markets several versions of FTN95 and Plato from their website.


 
Comprehensive information about ZOOM can be obtained from the  ZOOM User Manual


A free copy of the latest ZOOM version can be downloaded from:   ZOOM  (Version 2307)


When the download is complete, the ZIP file can be unzipped to reveal the ZOOM Folder.  The "Read Me" file in the folder explains how to execute the program.

Any user of ZOOM is entitled to a reasonable amount of free technical assistance by contacting the developer, David Williams, at
  dfwlms@gmail.com. Any comments that can improve ZOOM are welcomed.

ZOOM is being offered free of charge in order to facilitate the conceptual design and analysis of rockets and their missions. Anyone who is inclined to express their appreciation is encouraged to donate to a worthy charity. Of special worthiness to the developer of ZOOM are children's hospitals. Four notable such hospitals are:

Children's of Alabama hospital in Birmingham, Alabama,
St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee,
Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, and
Boston Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.