Design
| Enviro |
Astro | Propulsion
| Power | Thermal
| Structures | AD&C
| CDHS |
Test
Propulsion
provides launch, orbit insertion, orbital maintenance
and orbital maneuvering.
The DV budget drives propulsion system selection
and amount of onboard propellant.
Propulsion
Rockets
come in many types, but standard engineering terms
are used to describe them all.
Chemical
rockets are the most common, classified as either
liquid, solid or hybrid.
Electric
propulsion systems are rapidly evolving. They currently
serve for orbital maintenance. However, the NASA/Caltech
JPL DS1
employed an ion engine for its main propulsion system.
Thermal
rockets depend on heat transfer from either electrical,
solar or nuclear sources.
