Rocket Propulsion Elements: An Introduction to the Engineering of Rockets (Hardcover)

by George P. Sutton (Author), Donald M. Ross (Author) "Propulsion in a broad sense is the act of changing the motion of a body..." (more)
Key Phrases: vehicle velocity increment, converging nozzle section, pressurized feed system, New York, John Wiley, Book Company (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A revision of the standard text on the basic technology, performance and design rationale of rocket propulsion. After discussing fundamentals, such as nozzle thermodynamics, heat transfer, flight performance and chemical reaction analysis, the book continues with treatments of various types of liquid and solid propellants and rocket testing. It brings together the engineering science disciplines necessary for rocket design: thermodynamics, heat transfer, flight mechanics, chemical reactions and materials behavior. SI units and information on computer-aided testing have also been added.

From the Back Cover
Aerospace Engineering/Mechanical Engineering

The definitive text on rocket propulsion–now completely revised to reflect rapid advancements in the field

For more than fifty years, this seminal text has been regarded as the single most authoritative sourcebook on rocket propulsion technology. More comprehensive and coherently organized than any other book on the subject, Rocket Propulsion Elements guides readers evenhandedly through the complex factors that shape propulsion, with both theory and practical design considerations.

With more than a third of the text and illustrations either completely new or extensively revised, this latest edition includes current information on engine structures, nozzle theory, gas properties, thrust chambers, launch vehicles, and more. With a detailed table of contents breaking down each chapter into subsections–as well as an expanded index of key words–the Seventh Edition efficiently steers readers quickly to the information they need. Other highlights include:

• Separate chapters on liquid, solid, and hybrid propulsion systems and a new chapter on thrust chambers including the new aerospike nozzle
• Comprehensive coverage of rocket propulsion technology, with applications to space flight, satellite flight, and guided and unguided missiles
• Problem-solving examples and exercises relevant to actual design situations
• More than 340 illustrations, including photographs, tables, and graphs
• Coherent, up-to-date chapter on electrical propulsion balancing fundamentals with practical aspects and applications

For professional engineers in the aerospace and defense industries as well as undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical and aerospace engineering, this time-honored resource is indispensable for its scope of coverage and utility. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 372 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 5th edition (April 16, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471800279
• ISBN-13: 978-0471800279
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,304,304 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Book of Books" about the science of rocketry, December 1, 1998

By	[e-mail] (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rocket Propulsion Elements: An Introduction to the Engineering of Rockets (Hardcover)

For more than 30 years this superb book has been the basic text for tens of thousands of rocket scientists, astronauts, engineers, and amateur scientists alike. It is universally recognized as the "Bible" of rocket propulsion theory and practice, and remains the fundamental and basic text for everyone seriously engaged in this complex field of research and development.

Sutton's book should be the very first purchased for anyone who wants to learn and understand the ins and outs of both solid and liquid-fuel rocket propulsion. No other book even comes close.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am not a rocket scientist, but, November 12, 2000

By	Danny Hillis (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Rocket Propulsion Elements: An Introduction to the Engineering of Rockets (Hardcover)

It is always a pleasure to find a comprehensive overview of a field that can be understood by a non-specialist. I cannot testify as to how useful Rocket Propulsion Elements would be to an aerospace engineer, but for a technically inclined amateur like me it is a wonderful book. One of the things I like best about it is that it mixes theory with practical examples. It give a clear idea not only of the principles of rocket propulsion ,but also of the current state of the art. I was expecting this for the field of chemical rocketry, but I was delighted to find explanations of more obscure technologies, such as electric rocket of various types. I only wish that there were books this good in every field.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rocket Propulsion Elements, February 12, 2001

By	Pat Bird (Monterey, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rocket Propulsion Elements, 7th Edition (Hardcover)

It is hard to believe that a technical book could keep me up until 2 in the morning, but this one sure did. The basic principles of rocket science are not at all confusing, nor are they incomprehensible, when presented in this manner. The authors really want to teach, not just show off their knowledge, and this book has reached that goal. I actually understand what the rocket scientist is doing, what they are up against, and why it takes multitudes of experiments, trials, and special materials to take a payload to space. The math is basic, yet encompassing, and anyone with a high school education can understand "THE" esoteric subject of our times. Authors Biblarz and Sutton are brilliant educators.