Section 4: Launch and Propulsion Systems: A Quick Overview

• (Sutton and Biblarz, Chapter 1)
  
  
  
  
• Lecture 1 Notes: ................................ (pdf )

• Chemical Propulsion Systems:
  • Cold gas
  • Monopropellant
  • Bipropellant
  • Solid
  • Hybrid
• Electric Propulsion
  • Basic Concepts
  • Power Requirements
  • Classes of EP Thrusters
• Other Propulsion Concepts
  • Nuclear Engines
  • Fusion Engines
  • Solar Sails
  • Light Propulsion
  • Space Tethers
• What is the difference between Impulse and Warp Drive?

• Lecture 2 Notes: .............................(pdf )

• Choice Of Launch System
• Steps In Selection Process
  • Selection Drivers
  • Cost
  • Expendable versus Reusable
  • Mass Fractions
  • Launch Performance
    
  • SSTO vs TSTO
  • Staging
• X-33 Example
• Kistler K-1 Example
• Secondary Issues
  • Launch Environment
  • Payload Integration
    

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