Rocket Propulsion Elements

George P. Sutton, Oscar Biblarz, James H. Morehart

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2026
• Print ISBN: 9781394187201
• eBook ISBN: 9781394187218
• Edition: 10
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Aeronautic & Astronautic Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Best-selling classic text covering all major aspects of rocket propulsion, now updated to cover the latest industry trends

Building on the success of the previous editions, the Tenth Edition of Rocket Propulsion Elements offers a thorough introduction to the basic principles of rocket propulsion, a description of the various components of rocket propulsion systems, and an understanding of how rocket propulsion is applied to flight vehicles. The strength of the book lies in its delivery of both theory and practical applications, covering rocket propulsion for guided missiles, space flight, and satellite flight clearly and comprehensively.

This Tenth Edition includes the latest advances in the field, such as improvements in materials, systems design, applications, propellants such as chemical propellants, manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing, rocket-stage recovery and reuse, and new types of launch vehicles. Older system types that have fallen out of use are replaced with updated examples of systems representative of those used in the industry today. New problems are introduced in each chapter, and the book is accompanied by an online gas dynamics and two-stage flight vehicle calculator.

Rocket Propulsion Elements includes information on:

• Liquid, solid, and hybrid chemical propulsion and electric propulsion concepts, illustrated using detailed examples
• Nozzle theory and thermodynamic relations, covering isentropic flow, nozzle configurations including cone- and bell-shaped nozzles, and nozzle alignment
• Flight performance, covering launch vehicles and satellite systems, basic relations of motion, space flight maneuvers, and flight stability
• Liquid propellants, covering liquid oxidizers, fuels, and monopropellants as well as safety and environmental concerns
• Thrust chambers, propellant feed systems, and turbomachinery, covering materials, fabrication, and heat transfer analysis
• Solid propellant fundamentals, properties of energetic materials, combustion stability, and construction of solid propellant rocket motors

Rocket Propulsion Elements is an excellent learning resource for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students in the fields of mechanical and aerospace engineering taking courses related to rocket propulsion, spacecraft propulsion, or advanced space propulsion. The book is also useful for practicing engineers and scientists in aerospace related industries and research and development firms.

Table of contents

• COVER
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• TITLE PAGE
• COPYRIGHT
• PREFACE TO THE 10TH EDITION
• ABOUT THE COMPANION WEBSITE
• CHAPTER 1: CLASSIFICATION
• CHAPTER 2: DEFINITIONS AND FUNDAMENTALS
• CHAPTER 3: NOZZLE THEORY AND THERMODYNAMIC RELATIONS
• CHAPTER 4: FLIGHT PERFORMANCE
• CHAPTER 5: CHEMICAL ROCKET PROPELLANT PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
• CHAPTER 6: LIQUID PROPELLANT ROCKET ENGINE FUNDAMENTALS
• CHAPTER 7: LIQUID PROPELLANTS
• CHAPTER 8: THRUST CHAMBERS
• CHAPTER 9: LIQUID PROPELLANT COMBUSTION AND ITS STABILITY
• CHAPTER 10: TURBOPUMPS AND THEIR GAS SUPPLIES
• CHAPTER 11: ENGINE SYSTEMS, CONTROLS, AND INTEGRATION
• CHAPTER 12: SOLID-PROPELLANT ROCKET MOTOR FUNDAMENTALS
• CHAPTER 13: SOLID ROCKET PROPELLANTS
• CHAPTER 14: SOLID PROPELLANT COMBUSTION AND ITS STABILITY
• CHAPTER 15: SOLID ROCKET MOTOR COMPONENTS AND DESIGN
• CHAPTER 16: HYBRID PROPELLANTS ROCKET PROPULSION
• CHAPTER 17: ELECTRIC PROPULSION
• CHAPTER 18: THRUST VECTOR CONTROL (TVC)
• CHAPTER 19: SELECTION OF ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEMS
• CHAPTER 20: ROCKET EXHAUST PLUMES
• CHAPTER 21: ROCKET TESTING
• APPENDIX 1: CONVERSION FACTORS AND CONSTANTS
• APPENDIX 2: PROPERTIES OF THE EARTH'S STANDARD ATMOSPHERE
• APPENDIX 3: SUMMARY OF KEY EQUATIONS FOR IDEAL CHEMICAL ROCKETS
• APPENDIX 4: ROCKETS BOOK CALCULATOR
• INDEX
• END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT