Introduction to rocket propulsion systems

History
Definition
Types of Propulsion
Propulsion System Classification

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History.
first rockets - Chinese (gun powder
850 AD, rockets ~ 1150 AD)
next seven centuries military
applications (Chinese, Mongols,
Indians, Arabs)

Long Serpent
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History.
20th century: 3 pioneers in modern rocketry (Ziolkovsky, Goddard,
Oberth)

K. Ziolkovsky

R. H. Goddard

Rocket Propulsion AE411

H. Oberth

History.

V2 - Rockets

V2 Vergeltungswaffe 2
(Vengence Weapon 2)
Designed by Wernher von Braun)

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History.
1957: Soviet success with first artificial satellite
1969: man on the moon

Apollo 11 crew :Armstrong,

Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin

Sputnik 1
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History.
Indian Space Research
1963 : First sounding rocket launched
1975: First Indian Satellite (Aryabhatta) launched

Aryabhatta
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liquid prop.
solid prop.
liquid prop.

solid prop.

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GSLV MK III
2S200 + L110 + C25
3 stage vehicle
Launch capability for GTO, LEO,
Polar and intermediate
circular orbits
GTO P/L : 4.5 t
LEO P/L : 10 t

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Introduction to rocket propulsion systems

Propulsion

Rocket

Derived from the Latin word Propellere

pro = forward or before ; pellere = push
pushing forward or act of changing
the motion of the body

Device that produces the thrust by ejecting

stored matter called propellant

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Propulsion

(i) Duct/Air breathing

- utilises mostly the surrounding medium as

the working fluid along with some stored fuel
- eg. turbojets , ramjets

(ii) Rocket

- carries its own propellant

Rocket Propulsion

act of imparting the momentum to the object

in space

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Propulsion systems
Energy source: chemical , nuclear, electric, solar
Basic function: booster stage, sustainer, altitude control, orbit station
keeping etc
Type of vehicle: aircraft, missile, assisted take off, space vehicle
Type of propellant: solid, liquid, hybrid etc
Size, type of construction, number of rocket propulsion units etc.

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Rocket propulsion engines

Chemical Nuclear Solar Electrical

Definition and Fundamentals (inertial frame of reference,
momentum, impulse)
rocket principle and rocket equation
mass ratio of a rocket
desirable parameters of a rocket
propulsive efficiency
performance parameters
staging and clustering

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