Rocket Propulsion Elements - Hardcover

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

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1394187203 ISBN 13: 9781394187201

Publisher: Wiley, 2026

Synopsis

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 many chapters, 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.

About this title

About the Author

GEORGE P. SUTTON was a consultant for the aerospace industry who served as Executive Director of Engineering at Rocketdyne (now L3Harris/Aerojet Rocketdyne) and as a Laboratory Associate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

OSCAR BIBLARZ is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA.

JAMES H. MOREHART is a Senior Project Leader in the Special Programs Division of The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA.

From the Back Cover

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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1394187203
• ISBN 13: 9781394187201
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 704