Rocket Propulsion

A modern pedagogical treatment of the latest industry trends in rocket propulsion, developed from the authors' extensive experience in both industry and academia. Students are guided along a step-by-step journey through modern rocket propulsion, beginning with the historical context and an introduction to top-level performance measures, and progressing on to in-depth discussions of the chemical aspects of fluid flow combustion thermochemistry and chemical equilibrium, solid, liquid, and hybrid rocket propellants, mission requirements, and an overview of electric propulsion. With a wealth of homework problems (and a solutions manual for instructors online), real-life case studies and examples throughout, and an appendix detailing key numerical methods and links to additional online resources, this is a must-have guide for senior and first year graduate students looking to gain a thorough understanding of the topic along with practical tools that can be applied in industry.

1. Classification of rocket propulsion systems and historical perspective; 2. Mission analysis fundamentals; 3. Trajectory analysis and rocket design; 4. Ideal rocket nozzle performance; 5. Combustion and thermochemistry; 6. Heat transfer; 7. Solid rocket motors (SRMs); 8. Liquid rocket engines (LREs); 9. Liquid rocket propellants; 10. Turbomachinery fundamentals; 11. Hybrid rocket engines (HREs); 12. Combustion instability; 13. Electric propulsion fundamentals.

Stephen Heister is the Raisbeck Distinguished Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Purdue University, Indiana, and has previously worked in industry. He has served as an Associate Editor of The AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power and is an elected Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
William Anderson is a Professor of Aeronautical Engineering and the Associate Head of Undergraduate Programs at Purdue University, Indiana. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Timothée Pourpoint is an Associate Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Purdue University, Indiana. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Joe Cassady is the Executive Director for Space at Aerojet Rocketdyne, Washington Operations. He is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA and former Chair of the Electric Propulsion Technical Committee. He serves as Vice President of the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society, and Executive Vice President of ExploreMars Inc.