1. MAE 5495: Launch Vehicle Analysis Lesson 4: Introduction to Thermodynamics Dr. Andrew Ketsdever UCCS

2. Rockets of the Day Laser Propulsion –Laser Pointer: 5 mW, Spot size 3-4 mm diameter –For normal incidence and  = 1 F = 33 picoNewtons Isp = ∞ (almost) –Solar Sail: P = 1358 W/m 2 ; F/A = 9 microNewtons / m 2 –Saturn V First Stage, F = 6.7 megaNewtons, Isp = 295 s

3. Rockets of the Day Alka Seltzer Rocket –NaHCO 3 + H 2 O  CO 2 + H 2 O + OH + Na (eventually) –M prop = 0.01 kg –V burnout = V crash = 0.5 g (TOF) 2 = 5 m/sec –I tot = ∆p = m empty V crash = 0.05 kg x 5 m/s = 0.25 N-sec –F = I / t burn = 0.25 N-sec / 0.1 sec = 2.5 N –Isp = I / (M prop g o ) = 2.5 sec –Shuttle Main Engines: F = 1.7 MegaNewtons, Isp = 450 sec