AE 4220: Fundamentals of Rocket Propulsion

Category
Category I (offered at least 1x per Year)
Units 1/3

This course provides a study of rocket propulsion systems for launch vehicles and spacecraft. Dynamics, performance, and optimization of rocket-propelled vehicles are presented. Performance and component analysis of chemical propulsion systems are covered including flight dynamics, vehicle staging, nozzle design, and thermochemistry of bipropellant and monopropellant thrusters. Different classes of electric thrusters are introduced along with the concept of optimal specific impulse.