Launch Systems

Synthetic program:

Space missions and vehicles: Space propulsion and on-board power systems. Survey of space missions. Classification of engines according to applications and operating conditions. Jet propulsion: gasdynamic or electromagnetic acceleration, continuous or pulsed operations. Analysis of propulsive mission: Engine performance, mission times and costs, mass distribution, Tsiolkovsky equation, velocity balance. Thermal rockets: Chemical rockets with solid, liquid, or hybrid propellants for space launchers or navigation: general architecture, energetic materials, tanks and feeding systems. Electrical thrusters: Electrothermal thrusters: resistojets and arcjets; Ion thrusters and Hall effect; Plasma propulsion. Chemical, nuclear, and radiant power sources. Nuclear rockets: Solid, liquid, and gas core nuclear reactors; fission fragments. Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) and/or electric thermal propulsion (NEP). Other propulsion techniques: Natural or artificial radiation (laser, microwaves); propellantless systems (aerodynamic capture, gravitational capture, solar sails, tethers). Micropropulsion. Extraterrestrial resources. On-board power systems: Batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, isotopic decay generators, dual systems. Performance, efficiencies, consumptions, lifetimes. Power system distribution and control.