Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Nuclear and Electric Propulsion

Description

This lecture covers the principles and technologies behind nuclear and electric propulsion systems for space missions. It discusses nuclear rocket principles, fuel rods, nozzles, and the NERVA project. Additionally, it explores electric propulsion using xenon and argon propellants, ionization processes, and examples like the VASIMR project by the Ad Astra Rocket Company.

In MOOC

Space Mission Design and Operations

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering: Spacecrafts

Related concepts (32)

Spacecraft propulsion

Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. In-space propulsion exclusively deals with propulsion systems used in the vacuum of space and should not be confused with space launch or atmospheric entry. Several methods of pragmatic spacecraft propulsion have been developed, each having its own drawbacks and advantages. Most satellites have simple reliable chemical thrusters (often monopropellant rockets) or resistojet rockets for orbital station-keeping and some use momentum wheels for attitude control.

Spacecraft electric propulsion

Spacecraft electric propulsion (or just electric propulsion) is a type of spacecraft propulsion technique that uses electrostatic or electromagnetic fields to accelerate mass to high speed and thus generate thrust to modify the velocity of a spacecraft in orbit. The propulsion system is controlled by power electronics. Electric thrusters typically use much less propellant than chemical rockets because they have a higher exhaust speed (operate at a higher specific impulse) than chemical rockets.

Ion thruster

An ion thruster, ion drive, or ion engine is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft propulsion. It creates thrust by accelerating ions using electricity. An ion thruster ionizes a neutral gas by extracting some electrons out of atoms, creating a cloud of positive ions. Ion thrusters are categorized as either electrostatic or electromagnetic. Electrostatic thruster ions are accelerated by the Coulomb force along the electric field direction.

Rocket

A rocket (from ) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using the surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely from propellant carried within the vehicle; therefore a rocket can fly in the vacuum of space. Rockets work more efficiently in a vacuum and incur a loss of thrust due to the opposing pressure of the atmosphere. Multistage rockets are capable of attaining escape velocity from Earth and therefore can achieve unlimited maximum altitude.

Solar electric propulsion

Solar electric propulsion (SEP) refers to the combination of solar cells and electric thrusters to propel a spacecraft through outer space. This technology has been exploited in a variety of spacecraft designs by the European Space Agency (ESA), the JAXA (Japanese Space Agency), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA. SEP has a significantly higher specific impulse than chemical rocket propulsion, thus requiring less propellant mass to be launched with a spacecraft. The technology has been evaluated for missions to Mars.

Related lectures (33)

Spacecraft Propulsion MOOC: Space Mission Design and Operations

Explores spacecraft propulsion principles, including thrust, acceleration, efficiency, and chemical propulsion in space mission design.

Variable Mass System: Rocket

Covers the mechanics of rockets ejecting mass at a constant rate.

Variable Mass System and Accelerated Frames

Explores variable mass systems, rocket thrust, takeoff conditions, and accelerated frames.

Thruster-based Attitude Control MOOC: Space Mission Design and Operations

Covers the design and operation of thruster-based attitude control systems for spacecraft.

Spacecraft Propulsion: Basics and Applications MOOC: Space Mission Design and Operations