The revised edition of this practical, hands-on book discusses the launch vehicles in use today throughout the world, and includes the latest details on advanced systems being developed, such as electric and nuclear propulsion. The author covers the fundamentals, from the basic principles of rocket propulsion and vehicle dynamics through the theory and practice of liquid and solid propellant motors, to new and future developments. He provides a serious exposition of the principles and practice of rocket propulsion, from the point of view of the user who is not an engineering specialist. Electric propulsion is now seen as the key to planetary exploration by robotic probes and nuclear propulsion has emerged from the doldrums and is now seen as a definite possibility for outer solar system robotic exploration, such as manned voyages to Mars.
Reviews / Votes
From the reviews of the second edition:
"Turner (Univ. of Leicester, UK) offers an updated version of his 2000 book. . He examines rockets and rocket engines from the viewpoint of physical principles and gives accessible explanations on how rockets work. . Turner uses graphs to help interpret many equations. . Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates; graduate students." (D.B. Mason, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (10), June, 2005)
"As a rule, textbooks have equations and other books have colour photographs, but this book breaks that rule by including both. Its centre-section of 20 colour plates certainly sets it apart from most textbooks . . there is plenty of information between the equations to engage anyone with an interest in the technology. It also has a number of appendices and a five-page index. . The book is usefully up to date in its coverage. . This book remains an excellent primer on the principles of rocket propulsion." (Mark Williamson, International Space Review, 2005)
Product info
Previously published in hardcover
Series
Edition
Language
Place of publication
Publishing group
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Research
Edition type
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
ISBN-13
978-3-642-08869-8 (9783642088698)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-540-69203-4
Schweitzer Classification
Chapter 1 Principles of Rocket Propulsion [Minor revisions and errata] Chapter 2 The Thermal Rocket Engine [Minor revisions and errata] Chapter 3 Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines [new sections added as specified and significant revision plus errata] Chapter 4 Solid Propellant Rocket Motors [minor updates & errata] Chapter 5 Launch Vehicle Dynamics [Minor updates & errata] Chapter 6 Electric Propulsion [New sections added and significant update of others] Chapter 7 New chapter on Nuclear Propulsion Chapter 8 Advanced Thermal Rockets [General Updates and errata] Appendix 1 on orbits will stay [Appendix 2 on Launcher survey will be updated and corrected] [Appendix 3 on new launcher families and proposed very heavy launcher developments]
