Rocket Types

EGR 4347 Analysis

and Design of
Propulsion Systems
Rocket Propulsion
Ideal Rocket Thrust



Specific Impulse

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Rocket
Propulsion

Rocket Propulsion

Rocket Propulsion Elements Sutton and Biblarz
Rocket Propulsion

Rocket Propulsion Elements Sutton and Biblarz
Rocket Propulsion
Chemical Rockets
Liquid typical O
2
and H
2
Solid
Scientific American March 2000
Liquid Rockets

Scientific American March 2000
Solid Rockets

Scientific American March 2000
Solid Rockets

Rocket Performance Mars Mission
Thrust force 1 N lb
f
Exhaust Speed Measure of fuel efficiency
Sample Burn Time How long the rocket must fire to
accelerate a 25-ton payload from low earth orbit to
escape velocity. The time is inversely related to the
thrust.
Sample fuel ratio fraction of the total spacecraft
mass taken up by propellant. The amount of fuel is
exponentially related to the exhaust speed.
Scientific American March 2000
Rocket Performance

Type Thrust (N) Exhaust Speed
(km/s)
Burn Time Fuel ratio (%)
Chemical 110K 4.5 21 min 55
Nuclear Rockets
Tested in 1960s
Hydrogen heated to
2,500 deg C
Reactors can generate
electricity
Public opposition

Scientific American March 2000
Rocket Performance

Type Thrust (N) Exhaust Speed
(km/s)
Burn Time Fuel ratio (%)
Chemical 110,000 4.5 21 min 55
Nuclear 67,000 9.0 27 min 32
ION
1950s
Electrical fields
accelerate particles

Scientific American March 2000
Fuel cesium or xenon
Cathode dumps
electrons into flow at exit
Grids get in the way
ION

Rocket Propulsion Elements Sutton and Biblarz
Rocket Performance

Type Thrust (N) Exhaust Speed
(km/s)
Burn Time Fuel ratio (%)
Chemical 110,000 4.5 21 min 55
Nuclear 67,000 9 27 min 32
Ion 30 30 79 days 22
Hall Effect
1970s Russia
Radial Magnetic Field

Xenon
No grids
Scientific American March 2000
Hall Effect

Rocket Propulsion Elements Sutton and Biblarz
Rocket Performance

Type Thrust (N) Exhaust Speed
(km/s)
Burn Time Fuel ratio (%)
Chemical 110,000 4.5 21 min 55
Nuclear 67,000 9 27 min 32
Ion 30 30 79 days 22
Hall Effect 30 15 90 days 38
Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD)
Scientific American March 2000
Magnetic acceleration
Magnetic field electrically generated
Rocket Performance

Type Thrust (N) Exhaust Speed
(km/s)
Burn Time Fuel ratio (%)
Chemical 110,000 4.5 21 min 55
Nuclear 67,000 9 27 min 32
Ion 30 30 79 days 22
Hall Effect 30 15 90 days 38
MPD 100 20 - 100 21-25
days
6.7 - 31
Pulsed Inductive Thruster (PIT)
Argon Fuel
Radial Magnetic Field
200 times a second
No electrodes
Scientific American March 2000
Rocket Performance

Type Thrust (N) Exhaust Speed
(km/s)
Burn Time Fuel ratio (%)
Chemical 110,000 4.5 21 min 55
Nuclear 67,000 9 27 min 32
Ion 30 30 79 days 22
Hall Effect 30 15 90 days 38
MPD 100 20 - 100 21-25
days
6.7 - 31
PIT 20 50 110 days 14
VASIMR
Variable Specific
Impulse Magnetoplasma
Rocket
Radio waves heat fuel
Ionized propellant
(Hydrogen)
Magnetic fields
Scientific American March 2000
VASIMR

Rocket Performance

Type Thrust (N) Exhaust Speed
(km/s)
Burn Time Fuel ratio (%)
Chemical 110,000 4.5 21 min 55
Nuclear 67,000 9 27 min 32
Ion 30 30 79 days 22
Hall Effect 30 15 90 days 38
MPD 100 20 - 100 21-25 days 6.7 - 31
PIT 20 50 110 days 14
VASIMR H 40 300 53 days 2.4
VASIMR L

1,200 10 2.1 days 46
Solar Sails
Scientific American March 2000
9 N per square km
Large fragile structure
NASA working on Magnetic sail to catch sun
particles