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ROCKET PROPULSION
LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION Propulsion 2011 Lecture 1 - INTRODUCTION
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Propulsion 2011 Lecture 1 - INTRODUCTION

Contents
• Types of rockets engines
• Performance Measures
• Rocket selection guides
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Propulsion 2011 Lecture 1 - INTRODUCTION

Types of engines rockets

GAS THRUST
ENERGY
ACCELERATION LEVEL (p.u.
SOURCE
MECHANISM Thermal Chemical mass) High thrust
•Gas pushes on walls by •Solid propellant •Launch
pressure forces •Liquid propellant •Fast space
•Monopropellant maneuvering
•Bipropellant

Electrostatic Nuclear Low thrust

•Ions accelerated by •Thermal •In-space maneuvers
electric field •Electric

Electromagnetic Solar
•Gas accelerated by •Thermal
electromagnetic field •Electric

Types of rockets engines Performance measures Rocket selection guides

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Propulsion 2011 Lecture 1 - INTRODUCTION

Performance measures
• Specific Impulse: F
I sp [sec]
mg

▫ Chemical rockets ~ (200-500)sec

▫ Electric thrusters ~ (500-6000)sec

Jet kinetic power

• Thermal efficiency: ηth
Thermal input power

▫ Chemical rockets ~ 95%

▫ Electric thrusters ~ 30 - 80%

Types of engines rockets Performance measures Rocket selection guides

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Propulsion 2011 Lecture 1 - INTRODUCTION

Performance measures
• Thrust/Weight (F/W)
▫ Very large ~ (20 – 100) chemical
▫ Medium ~ (5 – 20) nuclear
▫ Very low ~ (10-3) solar, electric propulsion, any with a limited use of power
• Other factors
▫ Life (in terms of total impulse capacity)
▫ Re-start capability
▫ Throttleability
▫ Dipersion
▫ Cost

Types of engines rockets Performance measures Rocket selection guides

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Propulsion 2011 Lecture 1 - INTRODUCTION

Rocket selection guides

• Non-Space missions
▫ Solid propellant, 1-4 stages or 1-2 stages
▫ Solid or liquid propellant, 2-3
• Launch to space
▫ Solid, liquid or both, 2-4 stages
• Impulsive ΔV in space
▫ Small solid propellant
▫ Bi-propellant liquids
▫ Monopropellant liquids
• Low-Thrust ΔV in space
▫ Solar-Electric systems like Arcjets, Hall, Ion, PPT, nuclear-electric systems, direct-
solar termal

Types of engines rockets Performance measures Rocket selection guides

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Propulsion 2011 Lecture 1 - INTRODUCTION

Bibliography
• 16.512, Rocket Propulsion. MARTINEZ-SANCHEZ, Manuel.