FUNDAMENTALS OF ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEM

Module 1: Fundamentals of Rocket Propulsion System

Purpose of the Course:
This course provides learners with a detailed understanding of rocket
propulsion system relating fundamental principles to their real-world
applications in modern space missions. It concentrates on analyzing the
key propulsion parameters such as thrust, characteristic velocity, exit
velocity and specific impulse

What the Learner Will Gain:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

 Understand fundamental physics of rocket propulsion

 Working principles of different rocket propulsion such as electric,
chemical and hybrid.
 Governing mathematical equations to calculate key propulsion
parameters and performance metrics.
 Applications of rocket propulsion system.
 Develop a strong conceptual and analytical foundation necessary for
advanced studies in aerospace propulsion and space vechile design.

Can you answer…?

 Have you ever thought about what would happen if rockets didn’t
exist – would space exploration still be possible?
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Content

Module 1 : Basics of Rocket Propulsion System

1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.1.1 History of Rocket Propulsion System
1.2 BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ROCKET PROPULSION
1.3 TYPES OF ROCKET PROPULSION
1.3.1 Liquid Rocket Propulsion System
1.3.2 Solid Rocket Propulsion System
1.3.3 Hybrid Rocket Propulsion System
1.3.4 Electric Rocket Propulsion System
1.3.5 Nuclear Thermal Propulsion System
1.3.6 Solar Sail
1.4 KEY PARAMETERS AND ITS MATHEMATICAL EQUATIONS

1.1 INTRODUCTION
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEM

Rocket Propulsion is a science and technology that enables rocket

to move upward by ejecting mass at high velocity in the opposite
direction. Depending upon the Newton’s third law of motion, thrust
generated from the expulsion of hot gases, produced from burning
fuel. In contrast to aircraft engines, rockets carry both fuel and
oxidiser, which make them capable of operation in vacuum,
making space missions possible.

From lifting off space probes and satellites to switching

interplanetary missions, rocket propulsion plays a critical role as it
acts as the foundation of modern rocketry – a combination of
physics, thermodynamics and that turns energy into motion, and
vision into exploration.

Can you answer…?

 Why do you think rocket propulsion is called the heart of

every space mission?

1.1.1 History of Rocket Propulsion System

The history of rocket propulsion systems traces a progressive
evolution from empirical experimentation to highly sophisticated
engineering disciplines. The earliest manifestations of rocket
propulsion originated in ancient China with the development of
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEM

gunpowder rockets for warfare and ceremonial activities, laying

the foundation for the propulsion based on the reactive thrust.
Significant theoretical advancements occurred in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries through the pioneering
works of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Robert H. Goddard, and Hermann
Oberth, who formulated the scientific foundations of rocket
motion, liquid propulsion, and spaceflight feasibility.

The mid-twentieth century marked a transformative era with the

development of liquid and solid propellent rockets for ballistic
missiles and space launch vehicles, driven largely by World War II
technologies and subsequent Cold War space programs. Advances
in material science, combustion technology, and thermodynamics
enabled the advancements of high-efficiency chemical propulsion
systems, followed by the evolution of hybrid, electric, and nuclear
propulsion approaches focused on improved performance and
operational flexibility.

1.2 BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ROCKET PROPULSION

The fundamental principle of rocket propulsion is based upon the
Newton’s third law of motion – for every action there’s an equal
and opposite reaction.
Key idea:
 Hot gases are expelled out by burning fuel.
 These gases are accelerated and ejected out of the nozzle at
high velocities.
 The momentum of ejected gases creates an equal and
opposite force that propel the rocket forward – even in the
vacuum.

Can you answer…?

 If every action has an equal and opposite reaction, how

exactly does that simple law send a rocket to space?
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1.3 TYPES OF ROCKET PROPULSION

1.3.1 Liquid Rocket Propulsion System:

Uses liquid fuel and oxidiser that are injected into combustion chamber to
produce thrust.

Example: SpaceX Falcon 9

Shuttle main engines

Saturn V all stages

Shuttle OMS

Delta Core
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEM

1.3.2 Solid Rocket Propulsion System:

Uses solid propellent where fuel and oxidizer are uniformly combined in
solid grain and burned to produce thrust.

Example: PSLV

Shuttle SRM

Ariene V Boosters

Tactical Missiles

1.3.3 Hybrid Rocket Propulsion System:

Uses a solid fuel with a liquid or gaseous oxidizer for the monitored
combustion process.

Example: SpaceShipTwo(solid fuel + nitrous oxide oxidizer), Target

Drones, Hobby Rockets.

1.3.4 Electric Rocket Propulsion System:

Uses electrical energy to accelerate ions or plasma to produce thrust.

Example: NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft(Ion thruster)

1.3.5 Nuclear Thermal Rocket Propulsion System:

Uses a nuclear reactor to rise the propellent’s temperature.

Example: NASA’s NERVA(Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vechile Application)

1.3.6 Solar Sail

Uses the pressure of sunlight on huge reflective sails to produce thrust.

Example: JAXA’s IKAROS mission.

Can you answer…?

 Why do you think hybrid propulsion is called the “bridge”

between solid and liquid systems?
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1.4 KEY PARAMETERS AND ITS MATHEMATICAL

EQUATIONS

 Thrust

Definition:
Thrust is a reaction force that propels an object in the opposite
direction by accelerating mass of gas. It is described by Newton’s
third law of motion, where for every action there’s an equal and
opposite reaction.

Mathematical Equation:

According to Newton’s second law of motion,

m2 v 2 −m1 v 1
F=
ṫ 2 −t 1

From the
diagram,
If pe = p0 ,
F=me v e −m0 V 0

If p ≠ p , then
e 0

F=ṁe v e −ṁ0 V 0 + ( p e −p 0 ) Aⅇ

Where,
V = Velocity
M=mass flow rate
p=pressure
A=Area

Unit: Newton(N)

 Specific Impulse
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Definition:
Specific Impulse is the ratio of thrust produced per unit weight flow
of propellent. It is a measure, that how efficiently an engine can
generate thrust. A higher value of specific impulse indicates that the
engine is more efficient, producing greater thrust while consuming
less fuel.
Mathematical Equation:

Specific Impulse(Isp) = Total Impulse/Weight

I v eq
Isp = =
m g0 g 0

F
Isp =
ṁ g0
Unit: Seconds(s)

 Characteristic Velocity
Characteristic Velocity is the ratio of product of throat area and total
pressure to the mass flow rate. It is a measure of efficiency of
combustion process independent of nozzle’s performance and how
efficiently the propellent converts chemical energy into thermal
energy. At
Mathematical Equation:
¿ PC A t
C=
ṁ
Where,
¿
C = Characteristic Velocity
Pc = Chamber Pressure
At = Throat Area
ṁ = mass flow rate

 Exit Velocity
Exit Velocity is the speed at which exhaust gases leave the nozzle.
Mathematical Equation:
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Where,
√ (
v e= 2 h c 1−
hⅇ
hc )
v e=¿Exit velocity
h c= Enthalpy released(combustion chamber)(J/kg)
hⅇ =Enthapy at the exit nozzle(J/kg)

Units: m/s

 Mixture Ratio
It is the weight ratio of oxidizer to the fuel in the combustion
chamber.
Mathematical Equation:

ṁ(oxidizer )
r=
ṁ( fuel)

Units: Dimensionless

 Isp vs. MR
Specific Impulse and Mixture Ratio are key parameters in rocket
propulsion. Engine’s efficiency is directly effected by the mixture
ratio, which is measured by using specific impulse.
Units: seconds(s)

 Area Ratio
It is the ratio of rocket nozzle’s exit cross sectional area to the throat
area in a rocket engine. It is used to regulate the expansion of hot
gases leaving the combustion chamber, so that rocket can obtain a
maximum thrust at a given altitude.
Mathematical Equation:

Units: Dimensionless
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 Thrust to Weight Ratio

Definition:
It is the ratio of amount of thrust
generated by the engine to the
vechile’s weight.

Mathematical Equation:

TWR =
Thrust
wⅇight

Units: Dimensionless

Can you answer…?

 If a small model rocket expels 0.5kg of mass at 200m/s in

one second, what is the approximate thrust?(Hint: thrust =
mass flow rate *exhaust velocity.)
 If you could design your own rocket, what would you want it
to do differently from today’s ones?