The Past and Future of Rocket Engine Propulsion

The Past and Future of Rocket Engine Propulsion
Fathom

Seminar Introduction

NASA

Liquid fuel rocket, March 16, 1926.

Marking 100 years of powered flight (2003), this seminar focuses on advances in propulsion science, taking us from the entertainment origins of Chinese rocketry, through the early days of Konstantin Ziolkovsky and Robert Goddard and chemical propulsion, and finally through more recent developments in electric propulsion. While chemical propulsion requires large amounts of propellant, which it burns completely over the course of several hours or even minutes, to create greater thrust, electric propulsion demands far less propellant and over weeks, months or even years can surpass chemical propulsion speeds by a factor of 10 or more. Currently more than 100 spacecraft (most are communication satellites) use some form of electric propulsion. The reduction of propellant cost, the potential to reach greater speeds and the ability to more carefully position spacecraft in orbits are just some of the advantages of electric propulsion.

Editor's Note: Part I (sessions 1-3) of this seminar covers the broad historical context of the development of propulsion systems for space travel in the twentieth century. Part II (sessions 4-6) discusses the specific scientific operations of different electric propulsion systems and may be advanced for some learners. We recommend that the learners continuing on to Part II have a basic knowledge of and interest in physics and mathematics.

Learning Objectives

Recount the major figures in the development of rocket propulsion.
Describe the different methods of rocket propulsion over the past century.
Identify the advantages of chemical propulsion and electric propulsion.
Recount the various engine types and their uses in the field of electric propulsion.

Sessions

Session 1	Part I: Chemical Propulsion and the Dawn of Rocket Science
Session 2	Part I: The Creation of the Modern Rocket
Session 3	Part I: The Development of Electric Propulsion
Session 4	Part II: Electrothermal Systems
Session 5	Part II: Electromagnetic Systems
Session 6	Part II: Electrostatic Systems
Contributors

Credits

Technical Requirements

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