Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion: Principles, Practice and New Developments

✍ Scribed by Professor Martin J. L. Turner C.B.E., F.R.A.S. (auth.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 403
• Series: Springer Praxis Books
• Edition: 3
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The revised edition of this practical, hands-on book discusses the range of launch vehicles in use today throughout the world, and includes the very latest details of some of the advanced propulsion systems currently being developed. The author covers the fundamentals of the subject, from the basic principles of rocket propulsion and vehicle dynamics through the theory and practice of liquid and solid propellant motors, to new and future developments.

The revised edition will stick to the same principle of providing a serious exposition of the principles and practice of rocket propulsion, but from the point of view of the user and enquirer who is not an engineering specialist. Most chapters will remain substantially the same as the first edition; they will be updated where necessary and errata corrected. The main revisions will be to the chapter on electric propulsion where there have been significant new developments both in engine types and in practical applications. This is now seen as the key to planetary exploration by robotic probes and should therefore be reflected. Nuclear propulsion has emerged from the doldrums and is now seen as a definite possibility for outer solar system robotic exploration; and as enabling technology for a human mars expedition. A new chapter on nuclear thermal propulsion has been added to reflect this revival of interest.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi
History and principles of rocket propulsion....Pages 1-35
The thermal rocket engine....Pages 37-65
Liquid propellant rocket engines....Pages 67-108
Solid propellant rocket motors....Pages 109-134
Launch vehicle dynamics....Pages 135-164
Electric propulsion....Pages 165-217
Nuclear propulsion....Pages 219-269
Advanced thermal rockets....Pages 271-301
Human space flight and planetary exploration....Pages 303-349
Back Matter....Pages 351-390

✦ Subjects

Space Exploration and Astronautics; Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Sciences; Automotive and Aerospace Engineering, Traffic