Rocket Propulsion

Photo of a Delta II Rocket launch.

A NASA Delta II Rocket. (Image courtesy of NASA.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

16.512

As Taught In

Fall 2005

Level

Graduate

Cite This Course

Course Features

Course Description

This class focuses on chemical rocket propulsion systems for launch, orbital, and interplanetary flight. It studies the modeling of solid, liquid-bipropellant, and hybrid rocket engines. Thermochemistry, prediction of specific impulse, and nozzle flows including real gas and kinetic effects will also be covered. Other topics to be covered include structural constraints, propellant feed systems, turbopumps, and combustion processes in solid, liquid, and hybrid rockets.