AOE 4174 Spacecraft Propulsion

Instructor: Dr. Kevin Shinpaugh, VBI, 231-1246, kashin@vt.edu Lectures: 5:00 6:15 T/Th, Randolph 320 Office hours: 3:30 5:00 RAND 213B Text (required): R. W. Humble et al (editors), Space Propulsion Analysis and Design, McGrawHill, 1995 Reference Books: P. Hill and C. Peterson, Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, 1992 R.W. Humble, G. Henry, W. Larson, Spacecraft Propulsion Analysis and Design, McGraw-Hill, 1995 G. Sutton, Rocket Propulsion Elements, John Wiley and Sons, 1992. R. Jahn, Physics of Electric Propulsion, McGraw Hill, 1968. Course Web Page: Spacecraft Propulsion: Spacecraft propulsion systems and their application in orbital, interplanetary, and interstellar flight, and in spacecraft attitude control. Topics will include: review of rocket propulsion fundamentals; advanced mission analysis; physics and engineering of liquid and solid propellant rockets, electrothermal, Electrostatic, and electromagnetic thrusters, microthrusters, tethers, and sails; spacecraft integration issues. Prerequisite: AOE/ME 4234 Students attending this course must have a minimum level of proficiency of at least a C- grade in all prerequisite courses for this course. Homework Policy: There will be homework assignments approximately once per week, and the assignment will specify the due date. Homework may include mini-projects involving programming and numerical simulations. Homework must be turned in to me at the beginning of the lecture on the due date. Late submittals will not normally be accepted. Grading Distribution: Homework Midterm Exam Final/Project

40% 25% 35%

Honor Code: The University Honor Code will be maintained. You are encouraged to discuss project assignments with your instructor, teaching assistant, and classmates. However, all work submitted for a grade must reflect your own understanding of the material. You may not copy answers to homework problems and you may not assist others or seek assistance on exams.

Topics:
1. Rocket Engine Basics Introduction - types of propulsion systems Thrust, Equivalent Exhaust Velocity, Specific Impulse and Mass Ratio Single-stage and Multi-stage rockets; nozzle thrust coefficient Mission Analysis/ Orbits Overview Ideal thermodynamics of liquid rocket engines Calculation of rocket thrust via momentum equation Ideal expansion, over/under expansion Typical nozzle designs (cone, bell, spike) 2. Monopropellant Thrusters Overview of small pressure-fed thrusters Cold gas (N2) thrusters Hydrazine/catalyst thrusters Resisto-jet thrusters Historical examples and state-of-the-art 3. Introduction to Thermochemistry Thermochemistry basics (enthalpies, heat of formation, Gibbs free energy) Products of combustion and calculation of flame temperature Numerical methods for equilibrium combustion 4. Bipropellant Liquid Rocket Engines Common propellant combinations (storable, cryogenic, c*s, handling trades) Biprop engine cycles (gas generator, staged combustion, expander, etc. .. trades) Turbomachinery design (pumps, turbines, impellers, etc.) Other engine components (ignitors, CG, cooling loops, etc.) Historical examples and state-of-the-art 5. Solid Rocket Motors SRM/SRB components and configurations Propellant/fuel options (characteristics trades) Effect of grain cross-section shape (thrust shaping) Propellant burning law (regression rate vs. pressure) Historical examples and state-of-the-art 6. Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Common propellant combinations and configuration System performance characteristics (advantages trades) Historical examples and state-of-the-art 7. Combined-Cycle Propulsion Thermodynamics of high-speed airbreathing propulsion Conventional ramjet and scramjet propulsion Turbine-based combined-cycle propulsion (TBCC, turboramjet) Rocket-based combined-cycle propulsion (RBCC) 8. Advanced Propulsion Electric/ion propulsion (electric or nuclear) Nuclear thermal rockets (NTR) Pulsed Detonation Engines (PDE) Daedalus bomblets, interstellar ramjets, solar sails, M2P2